Chapter 4

Pre-chapter note: This is currently unedited. Feel free to comment or PM any errors you catch or wording changes you suggest. Velvet is still very busy and doesn’t have the free time for this. I just had to post this, someone asked all submissive and cute and invoked the ultimate power of the Fluttershy cuteness. My icy Dom heart melted and I decided to give in and give you guys what I could.

Numbness seeps through my entire being. I walk through the streets of Canterlot not watching where I’m going. I find myself leaving the city. The woods beckon to me. I shift and run towards them. The pain starts as I shift with every step it descends on me. My soul is burning and my eyes, incable of the tears my body wants to shed, burn. Everything is burning, my entire life is a burnt husk of what I had when I awoke.

I lay down deep in the woods losing my wolf form and curling into a ball. Time passes and the moon moves through the sky. I remain under it’s light as my mind tries to handle this new form of pain. Something lands near me. My nose is plugged from the mucus and I cannot catch the scent. I don’t really care. They take off back into the air. Good, leave me alone.

Something heavier lands a few minutes later. I cannot catch the scent however I can feel her presence. Luna has come. I struggle to a sitting position and see her staring at me with compassion. She embraces me and I break down. Tears finally begin to flow as she hugs me. Time stands still for a moment. Then the moment disappears as she steps back looking uncertain.

“Wolf, what is wrong?”

I tell her everything. She looks horrified. I smile through the pain.

“Somehow I can’t tell which is worse. The echoing loneliness at the top that I’ve always known, or this new burning pain of finding out what it means to have your heart ripped out. You’ve been through both. Which hurts more do you reckon?”

“The loneliness never fades. This will heal and pass in time. How much time depends on you. Moon Light wasn’t right for you. However you will find the one who is. Remember, you have friends now should you ever need to talk. I will be there for you and so will Discord, in his own way. You have more friends than that and can make many more.”

I stand and hug her. Somehow I feel like she’s put me back together. I’m still sad and in pain, but I don’t feel broken. “I need to sleep. I’m going to go to my room. Thanks, Luna. I’m going to be all right now. Eventually.” I begin to wander the wood back and Luna stays by my side. “I don’t feel like keeping you bound to the ground.” She starts to object but sees she misunderstands when I pull out my staff and rise into the air. She flies next to me as I soar back to my home. I’m a little reckless and push the speed way too far landing in a heap in front of the theater. I was almost as fast as pegasus for a moment there.

Luna looks concerned as I rise to my feet, watching the scrapes on my arms knit together. “Hey, I’m doing good for my first day flying. This is progress.” I pause and hug her again. “See you later, and thanks.” I head inside and trek down to my room flopping on the bed. I lay there for a moment before a knock sounds on my door. It’s quiet, almost hesitant. Opening my door reveals Jade.

“If you need somepony to talk to, or just to sit there keeping you company, I’m here for you.” She looks worried.

“How do you know?” I ask her.

“Changelings are sensitive to the emotions of others. Me more so than others. Do you wish to be alone?”

I pause. Alone is a terrible thing. I don’t want to deal with both pains at once. I step back. “Yeah, I could use a friend right about now.” I retreat to my bedroom and lay back on my bed. She hesitates then jumps next to me. We lay next to each other in silence. Knowing I don’t ever need to be alone again, that I have friends, rids me of the dull ache. The sharp pain is still there. I tell Jade everything.

My entire story. My world, the loneliness at the top, the power I possessed and fear it inspired, coming to this world. The many people who’ve died by my hands. Being an outcast and a criminal because I did what my heart tells me is right. How out of place and absolutely at home I feel in this strange world. I tell her about Moon Light and everything that happened. She asks some questions but mostly lays next to me quietly. After everything is said we sit in silence again. I feel myself drifting to sleep and she begins to leave.

“Wait, I know you're probably going to say no, but would you stay? I’ll sleep on the floor if you want just as long as you're here.”

She smiles softly. “Alright, Wolf. Let me tuck you in first though. I don’t feel safe sleeping next to somepony who has half the royal armory worth of weapons on his back.”

She’s right. I’m still wearing my backpack and gear. She eases me out of it and pulls off my hoodie and shirt. I stop her as she tries to take my jeans off and explain the clothes thing. She blushes and I laugh. She pulls the covers over us and runs a hoof through my hair gently. With her petting me, it calms me down and feel content for a moment. Sleep claims me and I drift the realms of a blank dreamscape.

I awake to something shifting in my arms. I’ve latched on to Jade in my sleep and she’s trying to escape. I release her and open my eyes. She has an embarrassed smile. “Sorry Jade.”

“For what?” She asks.

“Last night, dumping everything on you. Along with awkwardly attaching myself to you.”

“It’s fine, that’s what friends are for. I was latched to you too by the way. I just have to go work on my role. Juliet takes a lot of practice to master and I wish to do it stunningly. See you later, perhaps you’ll come up and practice your lines with us. We still need to get you your costume by the way, I hope Discord can help.”

I roll out of bed and hug her. “Alright, I’ll come up. Thank you.” She blushes again and leaves the room. Briefly I’m struck by her exotic beauty before she leaves. Perhaps I should act like the stallions of this world. They don’t date seriously until they want to settle down and start a family. Perhaps I can just find my happiness in being friends but so much more with the beautiful interesting mares I meet. I still have a good 50 years of my prime left after all, mages live a long time. Or do I? My gifts both extend life, did Discord cut the limiter that prevents them from extending it too much? Not to mention the ambient power in the air and the different physics of this world.

I get showered and dressed pushing the thoughts about my lifespan out of my head and head upstairs taking the director's seat. The play is different and some things have been cut or changed. The bite my thumb scene has become a stick my tongue out scene. I find it to be a bit ridiculous however they manage to keep the feeling alive in this retelling. The montagues are pegasi and the capulets unicorns. It makes the fight scenes a bit unusual because the pegasi are unable to use magic so they wield fake swords in their mouths.

Soon the first of my parts comes up and I leap to the stage shifting into a wolf. Discord has arrived by now and snaps his fingers as I’m landing. I look at myself and discover that I’m a unicorn. I feel like I’m wearing a bulky ill fitting costume. I find a mirror and discover that I very much look the part of tybalt. The curtain lifts again and I perform my parts perfectly wielding a shadow blade to imitate a unicorns telekinesis. The day wears on and soon we have completed the play. It has been a long time since I played this role, but I am a great actor. It is a necessary skill to survive my world.

As I walk of the stage at the end I’m happy to feel the weight of the strange illusion lifted. It’s noon ish and I watch Jade as she's walking towards the hive. I smile as a small idea comes to mind and I dart after her.

“You know you don’t have to spend all day in the hive right? You can explore Canterlot with me. Seeing you around town beforehand might decrease the negatives of you being here. At the very least it will be entertaining.”

“Watching ponies laugh at or confront me is entertaining to you?” She looks offended and shocked.

“On the contrary, seeing a changeling in my company and watching the rumors spread is entertaining. Trust me I know how these socialites think. Somepony in my company besides Moon Light is far too much gossip fuel to think about you like that. Besides if somepony does confront you or does anything else to you, well lets leave it at I must uphold the honor of the one I’m escorting and that can be fun too.”

“Did you get over Moon Light so easily? Or am I misunderstanding you again?”

I laugh, it’s short and slightly bitter. I don’t want to think about her. “I knew her for a short time. I’m just gonna think of it as having been turned down by somepony I had a crush on. It still hurts, but time tells no lies.”

She smiles warmly. “What kind of a fool would turn you down. You're a hero. I’d love to see Canterlot with you.”

She turns into the thestral form she had when she first came. “Nope.” I say.

“No to what?”

“I’m escorting Princess Jade today. Not a mirage. I want to be with the real you.”

She stares at me. “So does that mean that the wolf form is the real you?”

I think about it as I shift back to human. “Perhaps. I can become a wolf because I am a wolf on the astral plane, however this is the astral plane. However this is my true self.” We leave the theater as Jade shifts back to her natural state. The guards stop us at the gate.

“I was informed that the changeling were staying in the theater and not coming into the city.” The one on the left says. I remark again how hard it is to tell the guards apart. He smells of cinnamon and I don’t think I know him. He seems unwilling to meet my eyes. Did somepony warn them about my gaze?

“You were informed wrong, and right at the same time. They prefer not to come into the city, however I asked Princess Jade to come with me so I could show her around.”

“I need to find out if I’m supposed to keep you out.” He looks apologetic and I don’t feel like waiting for this stupidity.

“Well, tell you what. You can try and stop me and if you succeed I’ll just have Discord teleport me in. How’s that sound? Don’t worry so much, if you get in trouble just tell them I have a message for them. If you can stop me without Luna having to save you from nightmares about me for the rest of your natural life, please come try.” I glare down on him letting the pressure of the Predator’s Gaze drill into him as he meets my eyes in surprise.

He gulps as the pleasure hits him and nods. “Please don’t hurt me, however I have to ask that you refer to her as Princess Luna.”

I let me voice drop to a quiet sharp tone. “Do you guards believe yourselves to be better than Luna?”

“No Sir.” He whimpers a little at the perceived disrespect.

My voice warms and I reply jovially as I stride past them, pushing the little pegasus out of my way. “Good, then stop trying to contradict her. She wants me to call her Luna. Titles don’t stand during friendship. Besides, you didn’t call me Sir Wolf, now did you?”

Jade giggles as the guards move to stop her and shrink away beneath my gaze. We explore the city and I hear the whispers.

“Isn’t that a changeling! Actually more importantly. Is Wolf on a date with a changeling?”

“Isn’t Wolf with Moon Light right now? Do you think they had a break up?”

“Wolf is the reason the changelings are even welcome in our fair city. They feed on love you know. Perhaps he’s taking care of her so she has to take care of him.” This voice has a mild lecherous tone at the end and I can’t help but chuckle a little.

We have caused a bit of buzz and more than once I hear mentions of going to the theater. A well dressed grey stallion approaches us. He looks at both of us uncertainly.

“Tell me, the two of you have caused quite the buzz on your tour of the city. Is this more than just a member of royalty being escorted by a guard?” He addresses Jade.

“Indeed, he is a close friend who is letting me see this fabulous city without fear of attack. We worry that if we try and visit the city we will be accosted by ruffians who condemn our entire race for the actions of a single one of us.” She replies.

“I think the fear is groundless. Imagine judging everypony based on the actions of Nightmare Moon. I highly doubt that the nobles of this city are so uncouth.” I state offhandedly.

He seems to recoil at my statement and the use of the name Nightmare Moon. He seems quite interested as he asks. “I see. You are correct, such racism is not fostered within the noble houses of Canterlot. I assure you. We who are better ponies will see to it that anypony who is racist against your people is treated as the uncouth ruffian they are.

“I am Filthy Rich, A business stallion. I have come from a charming town called Ponyville in response to a rumor that somepony capable of forging enchanted items has appeared. Tell me Wolf, are you currently unemployed?”

“Actually I own a theater and have been employed by the crown as a knight. I have debated on a side job using one of my various uses of my talents, or in some cases ponies lack of. I suspect my calling will appear at some point but until then I’ll simply spend my time aimlessly doing whatever. Well also despite being employed as a lunar knight, they haven't really given me an assignment yet. So it’s unknown how much free time I will have later. I do know that whatever I chose to do will not be in the employ of some noble.” I say slightly bored by this pony. I have no interest in working for somepony else.

“I see, besides knowing a lot about glyphs, what are you other talents? Ah we shall continue this later.” I turn where he’s looking and a slightly angry looking Celestia is striding up to me. He trots off and Celestia reaches me.

“I would like to apologise for any problems you have had today, Princess Jade. My guards took me saying that unfortunately your hive will probably not be joining us in the city to mean that they should keep you out. I am glad Sir Wolf handled it, however inelegantly he did so...”

She turns to address me “There will be a group from Ponyville coming today. My personal protege, her five friends and a few ponies who are highly interested in meeting you. Be at the castle by the time I lower the sun. Be warned though. Your statement this morning ruffled a few feathers in the higher ranks of the guard. They seem to think of that as a challenge.”

“Excellent, I look forward to a little rumble with a nice opponent. I won’t hurt em I promise.”

She looks amused at my response but her face darkens. I feel a talk about my love life coming on. I try and think of something to say to divert it, but cannot think of what to say. “Luna told me about Moon Light. I must say I am disappointed in her family, however I must admit I can understand. How are you now?”

“I am alive, from that I can always move forward. Tell Luna she was right. Tell her Wolf says she can always visit me when she feels lonely.”

Her eyes narrow. “What is there between my sister and you?”

“She is a kindred soul. She knows the pain of living at the top and losing love far better than I do. She’s a good friend.”

“I see, I feel I must warn you however. Should you see fit to become more than friends with Luna I will not stop you. Should you do so in a way that hurts her then I will send you to the sun to burn for eternity.” She smiles but I see a hardness in her eyes that lets me know she isn’t joking.

“Has this happened before?”

“You will have company in the sun.”

“You know you’re terrifying right?”

She smirks and walks off with me staring after her. Jade smirks at me. “Did Princess Celestia just scare you away from an doing exactly what she expects?” Jade asks.

“No, I’m not that kind. I would tell a mare how I really feel about her. I would never pretend to be in love with somepony who I wasn’t in love with. Besides, I hadn’t thought about Luna like that. Well, much at least.”

“So how do you really feel about me?” Her face is a mask. She doesn’t know the gamblers rule about showing nothing is still showing something.

“You're beautiful. To be honest it was hard not to kiss you this morning when I saw you blushing. Beyond that, I don’t know.”

She looks relieved. “You really are honest. I’m glad, I can’t date for the same reason as she couldn’t, only instead of some stupid title I must hold the weight of my species. I can have a lover, so long as they are willing to accept not being anything more than good friends.” She gives me a smile that’s almost apologetic.

We continue our journey through Canterlot. Unfortunately it holds only just so much entertainment and we head out for a walk in the woods until dusk. The guards apologise as we go past them and I nod. We walk and talk about the play, the future of changelings and the past of them. She tells me about the queen who ruined the lives of all the changelings. I knew there was a small war but this is beyond what I had expected. Apparently the delegation from Ponyville is the wielders of a powerful weapon and changeling queens are capable of mind control spells. Thinking about it I realise that in the right circumstance Jade is actually on par with Luna and within 200 years might be able to stand even with Celestia. This mare is a lot more scary then she lets on.

Time passes as we talk, joke and laugh. Soon it becomes time to head back.

“Come on, let's get back to the castle. I’ll race you.” Jade says poking me in the side with a hoof.

“No fair, you can fly.”

She shifts into the form of a large earth pony mare. What she lost in wings she made up with her size. She grins and takes off. I grin and leap forward shifting into a wolf. She’s a lot faster then I thought and I’m slowly losing ground. We burst out of the woods and turn towards the castle. I love running full out after her like this. The wind in my coat and the burning in my body. The feeling of chasing her down gives me a strange feeling of lust and hunger. Some primal instinct that has been buried with my lack of lovers. I contemplate doing this with her some time with different rules. It could be a lot of-

Suddenly a yellow blur stops in front of me and locks eyes. I feel myself freeze in her glare. My mind begins fragmenting and I turn my own predator's gaze on. It’s like hiding behind a kite shield from an unending stream of dragon fire. I hear distant voices and shouting. Her gaze goes from a death glare to a sad look and the world comes into focus. I collapse on the ground feeling like I was ran over.

“What did you do to him? It’s just a race! What’s wrong with you ponies?” I hear Jade yell.

“I’m sorry… Um… I thought you were in danger… I’m sorry.” A soft shy voice replies and I feel a hoof scratching my ears. I open my eyes and stare into the eyes of the yellow pegasus. I flinch from her gaze terrified she’s about to release death again.

“It’s ok puppy. I won’t hurt you. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?” Her voice is sad and quiet and I can’t let her be sad. She’s too cute to be sad.

“It’s ok it was an accident I guess. Don’t be sad.” I say turning back to meet her gaze with a small smile. There are a lot of ponies around us.

Her entire personality seems to change. “Ohmygosh you can talk. That's so incredible! I can usually understand animals but you can actually talk!” She manages to pack excitement into her quiet voice somehow and I feel a moment of chagrin.

I smirk at Jade. “Theres more to the both of us than meets the eye.” Catching my cue we both shift forms. Everyponies stares at us in shock and I see a lot of hidden mistrust. Or in the case of the technicolor one, not so very hidden. I clear my throat. “I am Sir Wolf and this is Princess Jade, keeper of the Canterlot hive and a good friend. I am sorry for giving all of you a scare with our race. If you will excuse us we are late to meet a delegation from Ponyville back at the castle.” I start to leave with Jade however I hear a voice behind me.

“Don’t worry their late too. Somepony decided to ignore me and go save somepony from a wolf attack, despite us being warned by Celestia herself that the only wolf in the area is a friend.” The speaker is a lavender alicorn who sounds very passive aggressive and annoyed. Strange she has a normal mane and only one heart. Perhaps there are more than one type of alicorn. The yellow pegasus looks away and apologises again. “I am Twilight Sparkle. These are my friends. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Applejack.” They all greet me when ther name is said. “The rest of us stayed behind when we ran after Fluttershy. I can see why Lyra was called but I can’t think how it was a good idea.”

“Why’s that? She afraid of wolves?” I ask as we head back towards the castle.

“Opposite actually. She’s obsessed with- I mean she is a leading expert in anthropology in general and the supposedly extinct creatures called humans in particular. She’s going to pester you with a thousand questions and want to examine you.”

I laugh at this. “She wants to examine me? Is she cute at least?”

Everypony but the two unicorns laugh. Rarity says “So, you're a ruffian. I suppose I shouldn’t expect any better from a wild creature. I had thought you were civilized from your fashion sense, however you've proven me wrong.” She seems to have taken an instant dislike to me. She is beautiful and I decide to try and fix that.

“Tell me fair Rarity. If you got sent to an entirely new world where being a talking pony who could do magic made you completely unique, my world perhaps. Would you prefer the ones who were obsessed with you and pestering you with questions at least be cute when they do it?”

“That is neither here nor there.”

“Oh but it is. You think me a ruffian and I will have you know that I am quite the gentlemen. I was called the prince of the night in my old world. Go ahead and laugh at that. When I met Luna we actually shared quite the chuckle about my old titles.” I pause examining her. Her eyes glow at the word prince and then seems disappointed. I shift my voice to a softer tone. “Your pretty interesting Rarity.”

She glares at me. “And what do you mean by that?”

My voice is pushing poetic and I keep a soft almost sad smile on my face as I look down at her. “You're like a geode. I can sense a good heart in you beneath your overly judgemental and rough exterior. Hopefully I can improve your opinion of me and get to meet the real you and see the beautiful gems of your soul. I can only ask that you offer me patience with our cultural differences.”

She looks surprised and doesn’t say anything for a while. I turn away and proceed when I see a small blush begin to form. I feel a small sense of satisfaction until I hear her whispering behind me. “Am I turning into Blueblood?” I round on her in anger with my words dripping venom at the thought of that stupid stallion.

“Never compare yourself to that annoying little piece of…” I clear my throat. “I mean no, you're nothing like him Rarity. You just had a bad first impression of me. It’s nothing major that can’t be fixed by actually getting to know each other.”

She smiles her first genuine smile and I grin inwardly at the small victory. “I see you met the prince.”

I nod and we are approached by two large stallions of the guard. Captains from the look of their insignias. “Wolf, we are here to discover the truth of what you said this morning.”

I get a wicked grin, time to have some fun. I even have a nice audience. “Finally, Celestia told me to expect some sparring partners! It’s been far too long since I had a good rumble, almost an entire three days! So one at a time or both together?”

The two large unicorns look at each other and nod. “Excuse me, pretty mares, but I’m gonna have some fun with some ponies who think that Luna’s champion is gonna lose to Celestia’s champions.” I dart away from the group and round on the two unicorns. “This is just sparring but try not to hold back too much. Magic is fine and I encourage you to work together. One more thing try not to wet yourself if the lights go out.” I pull my staff from its slot and prepare for a fight. The mares watch with wide eyes and Dash looks between us.

“Who should I cheer for?” She calls.

“Whoever’s cutest I suppose. I don’t need cheering, I’m awesome enough without it.” I reply with a grin.

“Go Wolf! I just remembered I don’t even know their names!” She watches intently as we prepare for a match.

The guards keep range and fire bolts of magic at me. I try a basic counter and am not disappointed to discover I can’t stop them. Unicorn magic is much higher density than human magic resulting in a much higher cost for all magic, but the spells they cast are infinitely more stable and incredibly harder to interfere with. This leaves me with no magic counters or defense forcing me to dodge them. This is a pretty nice balance. They have a lot of punch and prowess but lack my training and reflexes. It’s almost like they’ve trained for years but have somehow never seen combat with someone who wants to actually hurt them. As long as I can keep them together it will be an easy win. I charge straight at them prepared to dodge and counter. The horns glow and they both disappear.

I roll to the side and find them at a 45 degree angle of where I was. Time for some fun. I plant my staff into the ground and boost at the one one my right landing on the opposite side as his ally with a swing that catches him in the ribs. He goes down groaning. “PAUSE!.” I shout and the other stallion freezes in place looking worried as I set my hands on his partners side. Pony anatomy is different however I have done some studying for healing them. My power flows and the rib snaps into place as the damages heals.

“See an actual healer, I can mend alright but not as well as a good unicorn can. Alright need a hand up?” I hold out my hand he has a look of chagrin as he takes it and I haul him to his hooves.

“Sorry, your on your own. I’m out of the match. I’ll be watching, kick his flank Iron.” He walks off and calls “Resume.”

I stare into the other soldiers eyes. He has a look of grim determination. I know how dangerous this part of a sparring match can be. He’s treating me as a greater threat than I am. I stick my staff into my pack and shift into a wolf. He shouts when I summon a globe of darkness around his head. He cocks his head listening hoping to hear me coming. I see him systematically lashing out with his spear, keeping it on a random, yet focused pattern. His partner puts a hoof over his mouth trying to keep from breaking the rules and telling him I’m near him as I silently dodge the swings watching to see his opening. Just as he counters the darkness with a spell he drops his guard in relief and I dart forward before his eyes adjust to the light, setting my jaws around his throat as he shivers and freezes.

“Complete silence and you can make the world dark. You really are Luna’s champion.” He says with an interesting look on his face. I bump his flank with mine laughing at the stuttering and walk off back to the ponies from Ponyville. The rest of the ponies have shown up. Shifting back to my human form Twilight attacks me with questions before Lyra can get a word out.

“What other kinds of magic can you do? Can you use unicorn spells? Can unicorns use human spells? Can all humans use magic or are there different races based on the animals you can turn into? Actually is the animal form a spell or a human ability? What’s your world like?” Twilight explodes into questions. Her eyes are focused and her wings are lifted in excitement. She looks so curious it’s adorable.

“See it’s great when the one spamming you with questions is cute. Twilight I had a problem following that but we can talk basics for now.” I explain about my world and how magic functions. Twilight listens to the explanation while taking notes with magic. She seems particularly interested in the effects of density on magic and asks me to visit her for tests and more conversation, proceeding to try tempting me with offers of tea and highly effective puppy dog eyes. We reach the castle all too soon.

“Alright, we need to talk with the princess. This isn’t over.”

“Want to resume this conversation over lunch? I’m already hungry and food is a great way to get to know everypony.” I ask her.

Lyra looks at me with an intense stare. At first I think she’s staring at my crotch but when I move to sweep my hair back her eyes move with my hands. “Are you inviting all of us?” She asks.

“Of course, it’ll be my treat.” Everypony smiles at me and Dash gives me a grin.

“You're about to learn that you never offer to treat Pinkie to food, or Applejack for that matter. Or me for that matter.” She laughs.

“I hope you're just talking about the bits involved.” I mutter as Celestia and Luna enter the room. I nod and the group of ponies bow.

“Greetings, Twilight and everypony else. I have asked you here to meet a friend of mine. This is Sir Wolf, a human. I want all of you to get to know each other. As the first of the knights I expect him to get to know the ones he’s expected to lay his life for.” Celestia calmly addresses us.

“Mind if we do it over lunch? I already said I wanted to treat them and food is the greatest way to bring people together. A wise man once said that a truly great chef could prevent all wars, if only he could make all the world leaders sit together.” I ask her.

“Certainly, however we were hoping to speak with you first in private. There are some things that need to be discussed.” The others tell me they’ll wait and I’m left alone with the two princesses.

“Wolf, I want to know about the books that you put in your backpack. I knew it. No blush, either you're made of stone or Luna was wrong about all the books being perverted. Theres the blush.”

She right, I feel the heat rising to my face. “I didn’t lie. The books contain knowledge that could end this world.”

“Show me.” Celestia commands. I really don't want to but I reach into my pack and start with the least damaging one. It’s a book containing the principles of necromancy. I have always sucked at it and found it distasteful, however knowing how to tie a knot makes escaping a noose easier. It does have its place in combat as well, basic necromancy can be very useful. Celestia’s face grows concerned as she studies a little of it.

“Bear in mind, this is the least of it. I wanted you to understand that this is safe for anypony to read compared to the others. They are not all magic, some are technology that anypony could wield. One is a guidebook to conquering the world. In my world it was highly effective, a perfect crystallization of all the greatest arts of war. Here it would be devastating. You don’t have the history or brutality of humanity to defeat it. This is a book on how the evilest of an inherently evil race can rule.”

Luna and Celestia lock eyes on me with apprehension. “We still wish to see, for that very reason. Why did you not burn these along with the others? Was the book I found the only one of a sexual nature and the ones you burnt terrors beyond all I could imagine?”

I look away embarrassed. “Actually I burnt all of the ones of a sexual nature. I kept these because it felt wrong to throw them away. All the times they’ve saved my life I felt I owed them this much.”

Luna looks understanding however Celestia looks a little scared.

“You have the knowledge of how to conquer the world? You use necromancy and can build world ending technology?”

“The Art of Modern War is standard reading for any battle mage in my world. I detest necromancy however I am proficient in it. As for the technology part, I have fond memories of building an enchanted mini nuke with my dad. We used it to blow a hole in an enemy clans bunker. It was great, the explosion could be seen from a mile away. The enchantment was so that it converted radiation into lightning. Safe for the environment and a perfect way to make sure nothing escaped.” I sigh lost in the happy memories before the realization of who I just said what to snaps me out of it.

Now they are both looking at me horror struck. Celestia presses the issue her voice slightly halting. “Let's say for a minute that the zebras decided to attack Equestria. How would you use this knowledge to assist Equestria if I gave you orders to do anything in your power to end the war with minimal loss of pony life?”

“Do I get Discord?”

She hesitates. “Only as a backup for power. No one can know he was involved.”

“Long story short or all the details?”

“Quit stalling. Details.” She is looking annoyed at my attempts to dodge. I shrug and let her have the disturbing truth.

“I would take a group of elite stealth mages into their homelands via a magic version of a submarine. Once past their outer lines I would employ the wandering guerrilla tactic as we make a bloody line to the main city of the zebras. Once there I have Discord give me a lot of power and materials and drop a massive spirit bomb on the city. I make a statement to the zebras to back off or I continue. They will have lost any sense of hope for battle and will surrender.”

Luna and Celestia look sick. I finish “but that is simply how to use the knowledge in these books. Not what I would enjoy doing or wish to be ordered to do. If I could do anything I wanted then I would go against the textbooks methods and simply capture the leaders of the zebras. A surgical strike leaving as little destruction behind us as possible.”

They look at me there faces turning to shock at this. “How?” Luna asks.

I cock my head to the side. “Master assassin remember? It wouldn’t be the first time I captured a king. Actually it would be a bit harder because I kind of stand out, but since I get Discord he could arrange a disguise.”

“Alright, Wolf. I’m still not sure wether your a good pony or an evil one. However I trust you to do what you think is right, so in your own twisted way that makes you good. My sister and I request that you surrender these books to us. This knowledge cannot be allowed to exist outside of the deepest and darkest pits of the royal library. That war book however I might be inclined to destroy.” Luna’s voice is louder and commanding.

I nod and silently hand all the books over to her. She dismisses me and I go off to make some new friends. I hadn’t learned much about them yet and don’t even have their names down. I find them outside on the steps of the castle waiting for me.

“Wolf you look troubled.” Twilight is as observant as ever. “Is something wrong? Has something happened?”

I think about it. “I just handed the princesses books containing ancient and powerful knowledge from my home world. I know I can and must trust them, however I’m not sure if I did the right thing.”

“You can trust them. They would never do anything evil with it.”

“Someday you should have the tale of Nightmare Moon recounted to you by your teacher. Even the wisest and purest of us can fail.”

“That’s different, we saved Luna from the Nightmare. She good again.”

“That was you? Wow I hadn’t an idea that was such recent history. Now where were we?”

Twilight reminds me checking her notes and I continue to bring her up to speed on everything about my world and life. We find a nice restaurant and I manage to find something on the menu that looks edible. After we are done with my story I decide it’s time to get to know everypony better and answer somepony besides Twilight’s questions.

“Okay, mares. Let's play round robin. Basicly one at a time clockwise around the table introduce yourself and ask a few questions. First is you.” I point at the mare next to Twilight.

“My name is Pinkie Pie and I love to party! Did somepony throw you a welcome to Equestria party? It’s like when a foal is born so it’s a big thing! Oh when is your birthday? Do you like cupcakes?” She is pink with a cotton candy mane that seems to be even pinker. She smells like cupcakes and something almost like a rock when you hit it with steel. She is bubbling with energy and explodes the question in a blur. Briefly I wonder if this world has cocaine or if she’s actually like this. She seems to be incredibly healthy her muscles well developed and her eyes hold nothing but real happiness. Nope, if anything she’s on a sugar high.

“Um… I like parties too. Nopony threw me any parties at all here, unless you count my little party of one when Moon Light dumped me as counting.” Everypony shivers and looks at Pinkie funny at the phrase “party of one”. I’ll have to figure that one out later. “My birthday is August 18 in my home world however I don’t know if that’s right here. I happen to love cupcakes or anything else involving sugar really.”

Twilight perks up. “We don’t have an August, here have a calendar.” I look through it and receive a shock. There are 55 days in each of the 4 months. They are all just named after the seasons. It clicks… how old am I? I borrow some paper and a quill from Twilight. I’m 8138 days old. Dividing that by the new days in the years 220 I am 36 years old and will live about 331 years give or take a hundred. Shocking. My birthday is now in winter and I say screw that noise and decide on summer 22nd. “Now how long does the average pony live?” I ask. 150 is the reply. This is horrifying.

“I swear this world won't stop messing with my head. Not even time or years is right. I’m not sure whether to stick with my human age or what. I’m just gonna forget that math ever happened. Twilight heres your paper and quill. I’m 22 and my birthday is summer 18th. All I’m saying. Next mare please.”

“HOLD IT!” Pinkie screams I look back to her. “My tails a twitchen. You don’t trust me for some reason.”

I look back to her part amused part ashamed. “Sorry, but it’s a little thing of mine not to trust pink things. Pink is the color that the eye sees when the color is beyond its spectrum of comprehensible color. Also pink has an effect of humans and looking at it reduces our combat abilities. Pink has been employed as a weapon before and I’m used to an abundance of pink meaning a trap. I’ll deal with my psychosis later. For now sorry about having a reaction to you like that. I had hoped to hide it and deal with it later but apparently you're psychic. Can I go to the next one please? The pretty rainbowy one is looking annoyed.”

“My name is Rainbow Dash! I’m the fastest flyer in all of Equestria. What makes you so great that you are a lunar knight anyways?” She is cyan with a mane and tail that holds all the colors of a rainbow. She has a lot of corded muscles and I don’t doubt her claims to be the fastest. She does come across as tomboyish and somehow dangerous and is still shooting Jade occasional glares.

“Well. Power, skill and swag mostly. Also the whole lunar knight thing is basically a way to keep me chained to the royalty. I am technically speaking a creature of neutrality. However maintaining neutrality in this world means protecting the ponies. From what besides monsters I don’t know yet but meh.”

“So basicly your not awesome. How can you be a knight if you're not even well muscled and one of those who always wear clothes?” She challenges me.

I set my backpack on the ground and pull off my shirt and hoodie revealing my scarred and muscled chest. “My culture it is considered obscene not to wear clothing. Men must always cover their nether regions and women there chest and nether regions. I’m more comfortable with nudity on account of how long it took me to learn to shift my cloths along with my body when turning into a wolf. Also I am a creature of the night I sunburn easily.”

“Whats a sunburn?” Dash is staring at the scars and her question sounds distracted. A grin forms as I notice most of the mares seem to be drawn to look.

“You know, when you’ve been under the sun too much and your skin starts burning.”

Twilight looks outraged. “Celestia would never let her sun hurt somepony!” Interesting you lose some but also you win some I guess. I stash my hoodie and shirt in my pack. Lets see if I do get burnt, it would be funny to mess with Celestia later if I do and epic if I don’t.

I continue to Dash addressing the question she doesn’t seem to want to ask. “Dash the scars are from a countless number of fights. I am very experienced in combat.”

Her eyes lock on mine as a wicked grin spreads on her face. What have I done? “Oh I’m gonna have to see that for myself. You and me later. No magic and no flying, just pure martial arts. Actually do your people even have martial arts?”

“Dash I come from a race of constantly warring and power obsessed monsters. What do you think? We have thousands of arts I myself was trained to an adept level in two of them. I reached a mastery in the other two.”

She looks shocked. “You learned four styles and two to a master level? HAH that’s a good one. Your styles must suck if you can master it at such a young age. We are so on for a brawl later.”

“Sure, we’ll just have to decide on stakes later. I’ve been training for what amounts to 32 years in this world just for reference. Next is you, Rarity.”

“I am Rarity. I am a fashionista and love anything to do with fashion and things that are fabulous. Your species believes clothes are a need to wear item correct? Are you able to account to me all the various fashions to me?”

“Not even close. I know basics like I like jeans and black is the only color that looks good on me.”

“Nonsense black isn't even a color it’s a shade.” She starts floating fabrics up next to me eagerly at first and increasingly frustratedly. Finally she states in an overly dramatic voice. “You are a living crime against fashion! I know you can’t help it dear, however I simply must find something that suits you. Always wearing the same color, black of all things must be absolutely dreary! Ah I’ve just the thing! A black base and use matching colors to blend inwards so that the black is at least broken up a bit. Perhaps some form of design into it?”

I reach into my pack and pull out a favorite t shirt of mine and pull it on to show her. It has an epic flaming skull with fangs and blood decal on it and the back has black archangel wings on it. Everypony gasps in horror and it sinks in. This is not an appropriate for this world. I clear my throat. “This is human fashion in a nutshell Rarity. How’s it look?” I try and sound disgusted as I remove it and throw it back into my pack.

“I take it back. Coming from a world where that thing is fashion, you are a model of society and grace. You really are a gentlecolt. I’m finished I need to design!” She begins drawing and glancing at me. A fabric measure floats from somewhere and begins measuring me, much to my discomfort. I growl and resist the urge to obliterate it when it measures my neck. You simply don’t just wrap something around someones neck like that.

The next one who has an orange mane and a cowgirl hat. I doubt that's the proper word here. She has a mild bored expression and despite being polite I can tell this isn’t her cup of cider. Her southern accent is reminiscent of back in my world. “Meh name is Applejack. Ah’m a farm pony and my family owns the apple orchard back home in Ponyville. It’s called Sweet Apple Acres.”

“I love apples! I hope they're the same between worlds. Wait, how do you pick them?”

She smiles warmly but looks a little confused. “Well after we get the apples out of the tree we just check em for quality. Not much choosing involved in apples really.”

This one has my mind stuttering for a moment. “I er.. how harvest apples?”

“We applebuck. Basicly we give the trees a good buck and the apples fall out.”

Mental state has gone critical. Attempting to defuse the bomb. “I see, you must have to kick them a lot to get all the apples. Why not have a unicorn levitate em out?”

“No they all come down in a good kick, unicorns are too slow. Farming is best done the earth pony way. You ok Wolf?” My mind has fragmented again. This world is just straight up weird.

“I must see this. This is weirder than the whole weather thing. Actually this entire world is weird. At least it has apples.”

Everypony is staring at me at this point.I clear my throat and shake my head. “So Applejack, did you have a question for me?”

“How does weather work in your world that it’s weird here? Better yet how do you harvest apples?”

“We climb the trees or use a ladder and grab the apples. Humans are really good at climbing with training and these help with a lot of things.” I hold up my hands and wiggle them, Lyra gives a small sound that’s a cross between a squeak and a squeal. It sounds like ‘squee’.

“I want to see that myself. Tell you what come on down to Sweet Apple and we can show off our farming methods. I’m interested in how your human magic helps in farming.”

“Actually, I’m considered weird for liking to grow things by people who aren't in my family. Mages usually consider manual labor beneath them but my clan is connected to the earth. Actually come to think of it. My clan’s powers are usually based around things like enhancing the body, something with animals or plants.”

“So yer clan is the earth pony version of humans?” Applejack has lost her mildly bored expression.

“I guess, however we are still mages. Most humans don’t even know magic exists outside of stories and imaginations. Tell me do you have apple cider in this world? It must be invented if it doesn’t already exist! I will accept a world where stallions are supposed to be submissive to mares. I won’t follow it but that’s not the point. I won’t however accept a world without apple cider, maple syrup or night time.” I am vehement there must be cider! I will invent if I must!

Applejack has a intent smile finally. “Relax, sugarcube. We have cider here, my family actually makes the best apple cider in all of Equestria! So are mares supposed to be submissive in your world?”

“Depends on where really. Women range from being treated as little more than property to being in charge of everything. What matters is the fact that I never submit. I know this might sound dirty to your culture so I am apologizing in advance. I’m an alpha, a leader. I accept a mare as an equal but love mares to have a submissive side.”

Everypony looks at me like I’m announcing I’m a full on into bdsm. I am, but I didn’t say that. I wonder how they would react to some of my deeper fetishes and fantasies? I expected as much from a world where stallions are expected to be the rock that the mares anchor to. The stallions are not treated bad, far from it they are lavished with love and attention. Applejack and Rainbow Dash both have a wicked grin.

“You think a stallion could keep from submitting to me? I know you're big and strong but I could take you. Stallions are good at tasks of strength but mares are better at fighting.” Applejack is actively provoking me and her tail keeps swishing. Her words would be angering if I couldn’t here the light playfulness in her tone and the grin stretching across her face.

“After lunch, Applejack, I’m gonna have to make you eat those words.” A big raised eyebrow across the table. Jade loses the regal air she has been trying to keep up and giggles. “Let me guess, that sounded like some kind of innuendo?” A big confirming nod from the group. “Not what I intended but might as well let it go for one. It’s a human expression, I think it comes from the phrase choking on your pride. Let’s hope that one doesn’t have a different mean… Dang it, I give up. You ponies are all perverts, I’ve already established this. Okay, what’s your name, Mistress of the Predator's Gaze?”

The yellow pegasus looks shocked to be on the spot and quietly says. “My name is Fluttershy.” It’s almost hard to hear and I’m not sure if I was even supposed to hear it. I can’t help but be struck by how cute she is again. I kind of want her to be mine. A beautiful but secretly powerful pegasus with a naturally submis-OH SHIT!

I choke on my words a little as I sputter them out. “DId you say Fluttershy?! As in Discord’s Fluttershy?!” I feel a paw on my back and turn to the god standing behind me. “I totally wasn’t checking her out or anything.”

He does not look amused by me. For a moment he looks angry but he relaxes and smiles. “Indeed this is the special pony I spoke of. I see you’ve met my friends. How are you finding them?”

“Bro your a lucky guy. They seem nice, insane and dangerous, but nice.”

Fluttershy turns away again. “I’m sorry.”

Discord smile for a moment. “Dangerous, however do you think so? My dear Fluttershy will find it easier to talk to you if you change forms so it will be easier to get to know her after you're done eating.”

“Twilight is an alicorn radiating power, Lyra has a weird obsessive look in her eyes, Pinkie is just... well pink I guess. Oh did I mention the fact that Fluttershy possesses a Predator's Gaze equal to that of the Wolf King’s. I’ve stopped hearts with mine before and she shattered it like a twig beneath her pure intent to kill. I can’t even imagine what it takes to forge a heart that strong. Speaking of Lyra, your turn.”

“What can you do with your hands?” She is staring at my hands again. Her voice sounds strained and I detect something off in her voice.

“That’s a loaded question.” I reply. I can think of a lot I can do with my hands and I can’t figure out what to say. I feel a twack as Discord smacks me upside the head.

“Get your mind out of the gutter.”

I give him a smile. He doesn’t even know the meaning of in the gutter yet. I think about Jade and let my mind crank into the little technique I developed as a last resort against mentalists. A hundred twisted fantasies lay in my mind, from bondage to knife and blood play, I even picture him in a collar in the form of a dog with me petting him.

He recoils from me in shock and shakes his head. “Wolf! What is wrong with you? At least it was mostly about Jade so I don’t think she minds but still. What is wrong with you?”

I snort. “I went easy on you. It’s a technique I developed against mind readers. Besides that wasn’t even all that bad by human standards. Just remember that just because you can see behind every closed door, doesn’t mean you want to.

“Lyra, my hands can do a lot of things. Most of the things that is done with telekinesis I can do with my hands. I can play guitar. I can pick apples. I can use a special healing magic with them. I don’t know what to say really.”

She looks satisfied by this somehow and nods. I think she’s studying me or waiting for latter to attack me with questions. I turn to the next mare.

She is a light gray pegasus with chameleon eyes. It’s different from humans that have a lazy eye. Both her eyes are moving independently and focusing on separate things. It gives her a silly look not helped by the lopsided grin. “I’m Ditzy Doo. I am a mail pony and I like muffins. Nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you too.” I reply. She looks like she wants to ask a question. I think. I wait in awkward silence for a few minutes.

“Alrighty then.” I cock my head in a nod to the white pegasus with the varied rainbow mane and green eyes. Her cutie mark is three music notes, with each head of a note being a different color of the rainbow. Somehow this pony strikes me as a celebrity or something. Her mane is silky and the colors are layered and complex.

Her voice is a smooth purr. “I’m Velvet Dash, I’m Rainbow’s cousin. I’m a singer and I’m actually curious about a lot of things. I’ve seen a lot of unanswered questions so far and I want to get answers to them. What did that math say that worried you and hurt your brain?”

“Long story short? A human year is 365 and a quarter days long. Every four years we have a year that’s 364 days long to compensate. It annoyed me because I realised I have no idea how long I’m going to be alive. Human live an average of 90 years when healthy. Mages have a variance of sorts. The magic they possess affects the ageing process. Average for a mage of my level and astral connection is 200, bear in mind human, years. Here's the kicker. I’m in a realm that's layered with the astral realm now, I suspect that will up it a little bit. The oldest recorded mage was a bear form astral possession. They lived almost 800 years. Now lets do some fun little math and thinking remembering a human year is 365 days and a pony year is 220 days.”

Twilight’s eyes cross as she scribbles on a piece of paper. She looks shocked. “so you're still pretty much a foal to your people?”

“Nope I hit my 22nd birthday the day before coming here. I’m legally an adult in my world. Not that age has ever stopped me, I’ve been drinking since I was ten. Then again it was just cider at the time so nothing too intense.”

Velvet looks shocked. “Humans aren't acknowledged as adults until they are 22 years old? Weird. Here it’s around 15 to 18 depending on area and tribe. Interesting if you consider cider to be a mild drink fit for a foal, perhaps you can join me for drinks at some point. Nopony can outdrink me. Not as anything more then friends, you're not really my type. Now, a lot of your scars are from something unnatural. There are burns that resemble the slash of a sword and patches where it’s just one big blob like all the skin there was cut off. Explain these, here they would be signs of black magic.” Despite having looked somewhat shocked, Velvet asks her questions without a large change in her voice. If it wasn’t for the small qualities in her voice, she would almost seem to be completely relaxed. Is she just used to controlling her emotions because of whatever music thing she does or is it further proof that ponies have drugs? I want to shift so I can read her emotions better, should be good for a laugh at least.

“Humans, by default, use magic that ponies would consider to be dark. Yes, even I am a black magic user technically because the method by which humans refill magic is in and of itself black magic. However Luna has decreed myself and anypony involved to not be using black magic.” I hope the next question isn’t desiring explanations.

“Interesting, you can lose the worried look. I don’t expect you to casually show off black magic or teach about it so casually. You plan on a brawl with both Rainbow and Applejack after lunch correct? Are you planning on one at a time or both together?”

“One at a time. A fight is like a conversation. It has a subject and trying to hold two conversations that require two different means of reply is pointless.”

“So don’t fight two different opponents? That sounds rather weak.”

“Not even close. Rainbow is a test of martial arts and skill. We want to talk about our training in the best way possible. It’s a lighthearted and flashy conversation. Applejack however, is a matter of submission and removing myself from her generalizations of the males of this world. It’s a serious and focused conversation with subtle undertones. I want to give all due respect to both of them. Rainbow however did challenge first so I will face her first.”

“Rainbow is going to beat you and you won’t get your fight with Applejack until later. What is with you and cider anyway?”

“Okay, the questions are starting to get me off pitch. I love alcohol. I love apples. Hard cider is a small passion of mine, a piece of sanity in an otherwise insane world.”

“Fine, Tell me about human weather.”

“It does its own thing. My descriptions of it to a thestral led to this. “Tell them to picture the Everfree on a massive scale, complete with weather that doesn’t even exist here on such a scale.””

This raises an eyebrow by the pegasi collected here. “Sounds insane. Now for a fun one. What qualifies as submissive in your world?”

“There are many scales for that question. Are you asking about humans in general? I warn this may turn into a sexual conversation if I’m unable to explain it without covering that aspect. Otherwise if you're asking about me personally, well that also might turn sexual.”

Velvet giggles. “Start with humans so I can get background.”

“Well the most basic form amongst humans is as simple as the dominant one leads in terms of decisions and takes the role of protector and provider. That’s the area of one on a scale of one to ten dominance. A two is similar but might involve collaring or similar displays of ownership. Higher levels the submissive is similar to a willing slave in a way. The dominant one protects and lives for the submissive one. The dominant in this case holds unquestioned obedience and trust from their submissive.”

“It’s highest level?” Her face is calm. Nopony else is, but her face is.

“That would be in the form of the slave master. They have many submissives that form what’s called a harem. Remember my people are usually monogamous. It’s usually taboo to have more than one partner. Actually if one does anything with anyone else that’s sexual or flirting it’s considered to be a crime against the other. Far too often the pain of being cheated on is enough to destroy the one who was cheated on to the point where it ends in a double homicide and suicide or just a suicide. Either way, people often die.”

Shocked looks. “So sleeping with a stallion other than the stallion you're married to is so immensely wrong that it can lead to suicide? I can’t remember the last time somepony committed suicide. That’s a shocking thing. So if you take a mare you're not willing to accept other members into the herd? Is it still cheating if the mare is with another mare?”

“Me personally? I am finding my chances of even a single mare to be unlikely. However if a mare did wish to join my herd I would accept them conditionally. A stallion however, well to be honest I don’t know. As for being with a mare who isn’t in the herd I expect the mare to talk to me before doing something like that. If there is no chance of a mare being in the herd and nothing between the mare I’m with and the one she wants I can’t accept it. Basically once I decide to settle down I don’t want my mare to continue thinking she’s single.”

Velvet looks pensive. “Explain more about the stallions. What do you mean you don’t know?”

This is a complicated one. Velvet’s face has been slowly betraying her own curiosity through the veil of her poker face. The others have been shocked into silence by the sheer impact of how different our worlds are.

“Stallions are naturally submissive here and I don’t know how I feel about stallions to be honest with you. In my old world I wasn’t interested in stallions at all. When I got sent here I think Mystery played with my brain. I find mares to be attractive and even know what’s attractive about them to me. I can also tell that something about my magic was fixed because I can sense some major alterations on a deep level. Furthermore I’m able to read basic body language. Also I’ve found a few stallions attractive and had to shove those thoughts into a small box in the side of my brain labeled ‘deal with it later’. I have had a few instinctive reactions to stallions though. I actually automatically flirted with one earlier without thinking about it.”

Velvet winces. “Your sexual preferences was altered? Interesting was your biology altered to fit sexuality in this world?”

“Thankfully no, not that I’m aware of.”

“Thankfully?”

I smirk. “We have a nickname for what’s the norm here back home. We call em one hump chumps. Honestly I was actually shocked when I heard about this whole hour minimum between erections thing. Humans are very different. Considering that sex recharges a humans magic, often males in the mage world are expected to be capable of performing dusk till dawn.” I love the shocked grins the mares all shoot at me except Fluttershy and Velvet.

“So if you can’t manage to seduce mares then you won’t be able to use magic? The preference change makes more sense now. Worst case scenario you have to seduce a stallion, your dominance works in your favor in that case. I suggest trying it, at least seeing if you enjoy it.”

“Well, there's always blood magic and, as much as I hate to bug Luna, infusions. Besides I don’t seem to be having a problem finding submissive mares.”

“Seriously?” Rarity speaks up shaking off her shocked look.

Jade gives her a look. “I can attest to this. I find his commanding presence to be soothing.”

“Oh the two of you?” Rarity looks eager, I knew I had her pegged as a gossip type right.

“Not yet. He wasn’t exactly available until recently. He was trying to pursue a relationship with one unworthy to him.”

“I simply must get the details on that.”

“He tried dating a thestral from the noble family who couldn’t see past his possible inability to bear children to realize he was the only stallion in the world that could even put up with her.”

Velvet shows a flash of rage and reveals the ability to scream without losing her practiced tone. “Rarity! Quit interrupting my turn for this nonsense or I’ll show you the real meaning of gossip! Wolf, if you’re so bucking dominant why are you letting these mares talk about you like you’re not even here?!”

I let my smirk show. “Oh, now you have me interested Velvet. I’m curious to see what you consider to be real gossip. Perhaps drinks aren't such a bad idea after all. Anyways, I was enjoying the chance to see into what Jade is thinking for once. I’ll play the wolf game later so I’ll explain it then. Short story is Jade is immune to my abilities to read people and it’s nice to see a glimpse inside her thoughts for a moment.” Jade looks at me shocked. I put an arm around her and give her a small hug. “What’s your next question?”

She give me a brief smile at the agreement and a small conspiratorial look flashes on her face. “Not a question, so much as a request. I wish to hear you play the guitar.”

I smirk and turn to Discord. “Discord. Mind pulling something out of my mind and backing me up?”

He snaps his talons and a familiar guitar emblazoned with flame and bones decals appears. I smile and stand up. All eyes on my and Discord as he snaps his fingers and a small band of himselves -is that even a word? I don’t think the english language is enough to cover Discord- appears with instruments and appropriate matching gear. I strum the guitar and am surprised to hear it ring out perfectly. It doesn’t have the amp but it still sounds perfect.

“This one is from my old world, brace yourselves to be bucked in the face by the depravity of human culture. Discord, let’s slay this shit!”

Cast out of heaven for a sin I never did

Cast out of hell, demons deep within

Cast out of life for a debt I nevered owed

Cast out of love for reasons yet untold

I am lost and I wander the world

Starving shadow of what I once was

Y’abyss calls, but I will not come

Hiding from my destiny is my gift to the world

The music gets heavier and I lay into the guitar

Forsaken I fell from the stars

Mind is breaking, covered in scars

Don’t remember who I am

Don't give a shit about who I’ve been

Shadows wreath me as I call your name

How can you survive in such pain?

I am lost and I wonder the world

Starving shadow of what I once was

Y’abyss calls but I will just run

Hiding from my destiny is my gift to the world.

-(Sorry for no link, but it’s my original and I don’t know how to make music. I promise all non original songs will have links.)-

Finished, I smirk at the shocked ponies all around me and run a riff on the guitar. Let them stew on that one for a bit. I sit back in my spot as the Discords become one again. Complete silence greets me coupled with stares.

“Man Discord, I think we broke em.” I say with a smirk matching his own.

“How did you even make your voice do that? What does that song even mean? How can you so casually sing about that kind of thing?” Velvet looks shocked by this display of metal.

“I just like that song, the driving bass and pure swag of that song is just so catching. Just be glad I didn’t sing Hatebreed or Disturbed. I might do some Rob Zombie later. He’s epic. Or I should say he was epic? Don’t worry I’m not going to do anything like that again anytime soon. So who feels like ditching these hard streets and enjoying the grass beneath your hooves?”

The walk does wonders for the ponies and they escape there shell shocked state. I smirk thinking about having some fun with my sensoria. I’m also looking forward to seeing the martial arts of this world.

Author's Note

Authors note: Not much for yall today, though next chapter will be a bit of a doozy. By the way, in case you were wondering and I forget to put it in the story, Discord did not remove all of Wolf’s Cosmic Limiters. Basically Discord was only able to remove some of the limits on what Wolf could do, not on what he can take. For example, Wolf can now use basic wind magick, however he is still highly susceptible to it. Soooo Rambling Time.

Is it still a Self-insert Mary Sue if the person is the insert of a friend and given certain abilities in case Wolf attempt to move on her? Anyways, everypony meet Velvet, the singer/songwriter/editor/awesome pony. Her powers include, but are not limited to: Singing, divine intervention in the event of Wolf attempting to seduce her, and last but not least, The Editing Ray of Hope! Seriously though she will play somewhat of a large role during certain parts of the stories, acting as a bit of a catalyst to make Wolf think about things more.

Shouts out to the mares that inspire me. My FEBFF/pet? Velvet. Best ponies, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. And let us never forget the burning muses that sear the best of all depraved things into my mind and keep me smiling, my adorable pegasus pet Boo, my cute fuzzy earth pony toy Napeti, my cuddly pet Panda(who is a new brony and has yet to make an OC).

Editor’s Note:

Side note on the herd structure. Polyamory, or having multiple partners in your romantic family, is not some kind of wish-fulfillment thing for me. It is who I am, how I was raised and what is my normal. Panda, Boo, Nepeti, kinda Velvet. These are my mares, and let me tell you something, polyamory is not just having a bunch of sexy mares falling all over you (All the time anyways ;P). I will incorporate what poly really is as best as I can without losing the lighthearted flow of the story. Picture this, you are trying to hang out with your BFF/kinda pet?. Meanwhile your marefriend needs comforting because her mom is in the hospital and you live just a little too far away to do it in person. Meanwhile your other marefriend is having a breakdown because something happened and is on the verge of tears. You talk to them and BFF is now sad because she doesn’t have all your attention. This was my day, starting the moment I got out of work. I’m not even gonna mention what it’s like when a certain monthly cycle sync up. Not a problem I have to deal with ATM, but I’ve heard the stories from older Doms.