Life in Equestria

"That was smooth." He told himself as he heard the door slam. This was the fourth fight this week and it is still a Tuesday. Brandon was known for many things, on earth and on Equestria, relationships weren't one of them. He ponders this as he sits on the couch, "I need to be more honest and more open to talking about my past, especially to someone or pony, who seems to take strong interest in you and your past life. Probably should go talk to Fluttershy. She should know how to open up to another." With that he takes a breath and heads out himself to go see Fluttershy. But he opens the door and there she is, frightened at the door that opened before she could knock.

"Oh, hey Fluttershy, nice timing, I was going to come see you actually."

"O-oh, y-you were?" She replied in that cute soft voice. Brandon learned how to make out what she was saying even if no one else could. Thanks to lip reading and general sounds that can be heard.

"Yeah, wanted to get some advice, please come in." He speaks, standing aside to let her in. She nods and walks in carefully, always fearfully, for some reason. Brandon could never work out why she always was fearful with everything she did. She made her way to the couch and sat down. Brandon sat on the other end.

"So why you here Flutters?" He asked.

"I-I actually came to give you advice, actually."

"Probably what I was going to ask you anyway. So uh, what is this advice?"

"It's about Lyra. You know you two won't stay together long if you won't let her in."

"That's the problem, I want to, but I don't know how and the memories she asks about aren't exactly flowers and rainbows."

"Try to forget you are talking to her and are actually just speaking about the memory to yourself, that way she can know. I doubt your war stories will scare her."

"How do you know about my war stories?"

"Dash, she fantasizes about those almost as much as Daring Do."

He sighs, "I should have known Dash would talk about my stories like they were Daring Do's."

"You know she likes that kind of stuff more than anypony ought to."

"Yeah, guess it's my fault thinking Dash wouldn't do much with a story I tell that is more action filled than Daring Do."

"She does avoid the unnecessary details. Probably because they shouldn't be shared."

"I never went in depth, no one should know the full details of war."

"Will you open up and tell Lyra what she wants."

"I will try but she acts weird around me anymore. More than normal, still crazed over the hand thing."

"Only way to know is ask. I don't know her well enough to give a answer for attitude."

"Alright. Thanks Flutters, you were a big help today." She smiled and let herself out. Which left him alone again. He begins to think back about when he first became friends with Lyra. It was a weird day when that happened, and sad. She was in a local band which kicked her out. Soon she had no choice but to find a place to live as she couldn't afford her place anymore. Luckily for her Brandon had a spare room in his house so she could crash there till she got back on her feet. She gladly accepted his offer and spent the entire night asking goofy questions about hands and human appendages. She found herself a job working with Rarity as a model. Which was a good thing, previous experience with needles ended with a trip to the hospital when she accidentally stabbed Brandon in the arm with it. It went all the way in and too small to find. Brandon could have used a magnet to pull it out but for the risk of infection and a tiny hole he choose hospital. She was fired from there as well as she tore dresses in weird way and was too costly to keep repairing them. Though being the element of generosity she gave Lyra a really generous severance pay on top of her normal weekly pay. She and Brandon talked that night about what she might do.

"I don't want to feel like a burden to you, if I had a income it made me feel like I was paying my way here. Keeping the costs down that is, since you refused to accept rent." She spoke sipping tea.

"I'm gone most of the day and most of my work is really physical and I earn more than I spend in three weeks. That's why I never charged rent." Brandon said after taking a bite of apple pie.

"So what can I do? I don't know where else to work."

"There are plenty of chores I neglect here because I am so busy during the day and too tired in the evenings to do. You would be more capable than I at keeping the place looking nice."

"I never wanted to be a house wife or maid. Not yet anyway."

"Well, I honestly can't think of anything else that you could do."

There was silence as Lyra realized she really had nothing else to do in town. Working on Sweet Apple Acres wouldn't for she neither a earth pony nor able to move large masses of apples. Didn't have skill in any other ability that she didn't already work at.

"Alright, what all needs done daily?"

"Shopping mostly. Possibly meals if you don't mind cooking. "

"Doesn't sound so bad."

"Just stuff I neglect to do, mostly because the shops close before I can get to them and too tired to make a decent meal unless it's a Saturday or Sunday."

"Yeah your two days off which no pony else does."

"I work like three jobs though. Technically it's one, but it could be separated into three."

"Point made."

Brandon went around Ponyville looking for Lyra though she was nowhere to be found. That was, till he saw something hanging out of a bush, a mint colored tail from what it appeared to look like.

"Lyra is that you?" He asked, he heard crying which stopped for the most part once he asked the question. The figure came out, which was Lyra, she had been crying for a while based on her bloodshot eyes and tear trail.

"I'm sorry for shutting you out like that. I'm no good at talking about my past. Mostly because I'm ashamed of it."

She sniffles and wipes her eyes, "W-why? You have a interesting past. Why are you ashamed of it?"

"It's the harsh memories and stuff I used to do that is what makes me ashamed. I know things that most didn't know were physically possible. I used to be a bad type of human then and have spent a lot of time trying to stop being him."

"The memories are what remind you of what not to do again."

"I know, just the memories are painful."

"If a anything I know is true is that pain never stopped you before."

Brandon stares a moment "Dang it Dash. She's going to be the death of me, I know it." Hearing this Lyra lets out a giggle, which makes Brandon smile, he really meant what he said but the fact Lyra wasn't sad anymore was a relief to him.

"What makes you say that?"

"I can't win every fight. Dash is going to make that fight happen, I just know it."

"She means well though."

"Possibly. Though if I may ask, why do you behave different around me?"

She is taken by surprise by this, "What you mean?"

"You almost turn into something else, as if some emotion or something starts working in you. I do know it isn't the fact I have refused talking about my past."

She blushes a bit as she wonders herself what would make her act differently than normal around him. She then looks at him a moment and pays attention to what she feels. She gets a answer in a few moments, "It's because it's a emotion I never felt before."

"What emotion is it?"

"Lust or love. One of those two."

"I think the latter is more it. Lust is more of a sexual desire and would have gone away by now."

She ponders this a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Shall we head home?"

"I would like that."

He smiles and they walk together back to the home.

Once home they enjoy a meal together and move to the couch.

"I remember that hole." Lyra says as she points to a tiny hole in the arm rest of the couch.

"The day you almost took my head off." Brandon comments recalling the scene. He was enjoying a Sunday afternoon and reading the paper when Lyra walks in. He didn't see her for the paper was in the way.

"Hey Brandon what is this thing?" Brandon folds the top of the newspaper over to see Lyra holding a military grade M4 with her magic. He quickly rolls off the couch just before "BAM" the sound of the gun going off and hole where his head used to be resting on the couch. In fear and fright she drops the gun to the ground. The gun does nothing more except ding the wood floor. Brandon looks at the couch and then to the rifle. Finally looking at her,

"Now I think you understand why I said to not mess with what's under my bed?"

"Yeah." With that Brandon picks up the M4 and flips the safety back on.

"Why do humans have such a dangerous tool?" Lyra asks after recalling the incident.

"Because we are not perfect and we fight a lot. So it's about the bigger better weapon."

"We don't want war so why you have such things here?"

"Because I had them on me when I got teleported here. Though I hope I never have to go dig them out of the attic."

"Why not destroy them? They obviously aren't needed."

"They are a good deterrent. The object that comes out is faster than Dash doing a rainboom. So ponies think twice about going against such a weapon. So scare tactic gives it a safe use, but if they truly intend harm then the weapons can give a decent amount of harm."

"I noticed such. Since the object lodged deep into a thick wooden armrest."

"Better there than going through the wall into someone else's house."

"Good point. Say, uh, is it fine if I slept with you tonight?" When she asks the question she looks shyly away and blushes.

"Why? Just out of curiosity."

"I get lonely and well, since you know, love each other..." Her blush deepens and looks around nervously.

"Why not, as long as you don't play with my hands too much."

"It was one night!"

"I know, I just like teasing you about it."

She glares at him, not amused but not angry either.

"Come on, let's go to bed. Got a busy day tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is Saturday."

"Is it? Doesn't feel like a Friday to me."

"It is Friday, so you have no reason to get up early in the morning."

"True."

With that she smiles and heads off to get ready for bed. Which only consisted of brushing her teeth. Ponies didn't need to wear clothes for any occasion if they chose. So normal activities they wore nothing. One thing Brandon was jealous for, but it kept Rarity in business with him needing occasional work clothing or fixes. Though in his room was a mannequin that was custom made for him. It wore the clothes he wore the day he ended up in Equestria. Which hasn't been worn since and almost none know of its existence. The outfit being a black denim pants and black button up shirt with a dark brown natural skin leather hooded jacket that dropped down near the ankles.

"What is this?" Lyra asks while looking at the odd get up.

Brandon soon walks in with only gym shorts on, "That was my old work clothes when I was on earth. It's history is tied with the nickname I have."

"So what was the purpose of it?"

"Two things, one was stealth. Earth had many places to hide and I worked a lot during the night. The second was to be a unique look so any that saw if knew who they were dealing with."

"Like how the Wonderbolts have blue spandex uniforms for work clothes?"

"Yes, just this was more universal for me and more scary than the Wonderbolts. Seriously the Wonderbolts are just kindergarteners compared to the man that I am when I wear this."

"Really? You can outdo them that easily?" She carried excitement to actually here something about him that was based on his life earth and could actually beat the heroes of Equestria.

"Dash wouldn't idolize them when it comes to fighting."

"Wow, do the Wonderbolts know this?"

"Don't know, let's hope they never have to meet Ghost."

"Ghost? Who is this?" She was confused at this name, wondering why she never met him or heard of him earlier.

"I'm Ghost. It was a name I used while wearing that."

"Makes sense now." Pieces clicking together in her mind.

"Now, enough of a old costume, let's get some sleep."

"Okay." She hops into bed and waits for Brandon. He gets in and under covers and that is when she gets under and snuggles up to him.