Flugelhorn of my youth

Twilight was beginning to wonder if maybe she put too much trust in that Aircutter would keep his word to come to the town hall when he walked though the door with Pinkie Pie right behind him.. She should've known that Pinkie would want to have a welcome party for Aircutter and knowing her it would be something about pirates and she was trying to learn more so that it would be the perfect party .

" For the 12'th time Pinkie; Pirates don't say Arrrgh!; They don't get in a sword fight every time they attack and they don't swear unless they are being very annoyed by a pink pony asking a bunch of random pirate related questions like if I know any pixie ponies which are nothing but a made up fairy tale creature  and while I'm at it; Peter Ponny is just a fictional  story about a earth pony colt who can fly without wings. OK?!? " Aircutter said as he stopped in front of Twilight and then he looked at her with a look that screamed.. Can you help me please?.

" Sorry about that; When it comes to parties; Pinkie can and will do nearly anything  to make sure it's the best party possible; Pinkie don't you think you have enough info now? "  Twilight asked Pinkie as she looked at her.

Pinkie looked at her list and then rolled it up like an old window blind.

" Yeah I think I'm good! See you all later! " Pinkie said as she bounced off to plan the party.

" Wait! You took my cupcakes and pie!" Aircutter yelled even though Pinkie was already gone.

" Relax; She will take them to your airship for you but you could be missing a cupcake or two by the time you get there. " Twilight said helpfully

" Oh for the love of !.. Never mind I'm just glad that's over and let me tell you it was hard to think when she was asking so many questions and some of them..UGH! is she always like that? "  Aircutter

" Only when she wants to be of forgets her manners but enough of that; I know you don't have enough bits to pay for the land even if it is pretty cheap because it's outside Ponyville  limits....So what I'm wondering is how you plan to pay it off. Twilight said as she looked at him and couldn't help but think that he was still keeping a lot of secrets.

" I was able to think of something in spite of Pinkie on the way here and I'll make an offer..  I'll let you and the other princesses use my most important possession for awhile and in exchange you princesses pay off the debt and I'm sure you'll find that to be a very generous offer. " Aircutter said with a confidant smile.

" Oh please! We can fly and we can even get others to fly us to other places if need be! I really don't see how letting us use some Airship will get us to pay off your debt! " Twilight said with a smirk and was thinking that maybe this pony wasn't as crafty as she first thought but then he laughed and suddenly her own confidence sank like a stone as he looked at her with a sly look.

" Whahaha! Don't make me laugh! I wouldn't dream to offer something so mundane to four princesses and who said the airship was my most important possession? No! That honor goes to this! Aircutter said as he pulled up his eyepatch causing Twilight to gasp but it wasn't the awful scarring that shocked her though it didn't help.. It was what was in his eye socket in replacement of his old eye that made her gasp.. It couldn't be! But it was! It looked exactly like it did in the books!!!

' THE RAINBOW CRYSTAL EYE OF STARSWIRL THE BEARDED?!!??! HOW IN THE HOOF DID YOU GET YOUR HOOVES ON THAT!?!?! Twilight yelled in a demanding voice

" You don't need to yell quite that loud and as to your question; I didn't! Sombra took it ages ago when I was but a mear colt with no cutiemark; If you want to find out how he got ahold of it you'll have to ask him but I do know that most of the legends and stories about it are true even the one about anypony being able to use it if they know how..

How do you think I managed to find so much stuff even when it was hidden? I mean I'm good but nopony is that good! And oh by the way the story that it can't be removed until the pony dies of natural death and that it even prolongs the lifespan of who ever has it in their eye socket is also true but my point is I have it and I know how to use it.. "

"In fact if it were not for the fact that Starswirl wasn't willing to lose an eye for being able to use it I dare say he would've done it without thinking about it.  In any case it's a much better offer than some old airship don't you think? " Aircutter almost said rather than asked.

Twilight snorted in annoyance and then went limp and sat on the floor.. Blast it!  He knew the offer would be too good to pass up! It was THE Starswirl's eye for pony's sake! She and the other princesses would have to be totally insane to refuse such a offer! She watched as he covered up the Starswirl eye.

" Just one question why do you keep it covered? I know that it needs to be protected and that the scarring is bad but why cover it? you don't seem to be the type to just hide it for it's own protection or worry about some scarring. " Twilight

" it's simple when I said that most of the legends are true I meant it and it can be a little disconcerting to be able to look though stuff with just a single thought.. I saw one too many  walking pony skeletons when I tried going without it thank you very much and besides it stops the eye's power from working.  Starswirl was more than wize enough to see that it should have at least one thing it couldn't see though and it does help it rest until I use it again and as for the scarring it does upset ponies so I keep them hidden and there are ponies who would not care if the legends of it losing it's power if it was taken out by force and they would try to take it anyways and it was more than painful enough going in.."  Aircutter said honestly.

" I can understand that I guess.... I knew you were keeping stuff from us but nothing like that.. So what is it like? Does it really shoot beams of magic? Does it..MMMTH! " twilight said in an very excited voice until Aircutter covered her mouth with his hoof looking a little annoyed at her as he was getting tired of it the over excited ponies he had been dealing with today.

" I'll tell you all that over time. Do we have a deal or not?  Aircutter asked as he removed his hoof.

" Well I'll have to ask the other princesses but I think it's safe to say YES! OOOH! To think that one of Starswirl's most famous... Wait a sec; Do you possibly have a few other long lost Starswirl artifacts? Please say yes!"  Twilight asked all excited again.

" Oh I may have a few dozen like the many everlit lanterns I have and a magic compass able to find the best way to anywhere one wants to go but nothing like the eye.. it's the real prize; I'll show you them right now if you promise that nopony will try to take them without giving  something of the same value in return." Aircutter said when he saw how much Twilight wanted to see the artifacts.

" Deal! " Twilight said as she clapped her hooves happily together. What started out as a not too good day for her was now looking up! to think there were long lost Starswirl artifacts so near Ponyville right now and hopefully they would stay for long time to come.. Then she blushed when she saw that meant that Aircutter would have to stay but if he could like having some Starswirl the bearded artifacts around then he couldn't be all that bad. Right?...

" Shall we go? I'd like to eat a few cupcakes before Pinkie gets to all of them. " Aircutter said as he made a respectful bow and pointed to the door with one hoof as Twilight clapped her hooves together again and she walked towards the door and they were soon on their way.But as it turned out Pinkie had the party ready by the time they got to the airship and so Twilight had to put off looking at the artifacts until after sunset much to her annoyance but she did take the time to send a letter explaining the deal and soon got the agreements needed to Aircutter's deal.

The party was a hit though Aircutter and Rainbow Dash did fight a little over who they thought was the better air team again and the others did try to get along with him though it was clear that he and Rarity might take a bit longer and Apple Jack still didn't trust him but finally it was time to go home and call it a night

' Oh dear! I do think we stayed out too late! Rarity said as the other ponies left.

" We should've brought something to light our way like some the others did. " Rainbow Dash said as she looked at the already disappearing lights

" Excuse me; But I noticed that the six of you need some lights; You can barrow a couple of my everlit lanterns for tonight as long as you return them soon. " Aircutter said when he came up to them but it was the fact that the three lanterns were magically floating in the air and that he now had a glowing eye where his eyepatch was that caused Rainbow Dash to react.

" What the? How are you doing that? Only unicorns have that kind of magic!" Rainbow Dash asked in surprise as Twilight took the four lanterns.

' It's the Starswirl eye; I'll explain on the way home." Twilight said as she took the lanterns as she thanked him and he covered the eye again and he smiled for the first time since landing here and thought that in spite of the crazy start and dealing with at least a few unexpected twists that it was a good new beginning for him.

They looked at the soft light lit up where they stood.

" Well girls you got to admit he did help us. " Twilight said as she looked at them

" Yeah, yeah.. I guess he's not all that bad and at least as long as he's here I can prove how much better the Wonderbolts are!" Rainbow Dash said as she was given one lantern and one was given to Fluttershy  and the third was given to Apple Jack as the others would be going back to town together.

"I don't care! He still a brute and that's all he'll ever be but I must admit it I do think that he may learn to be less of a brute to where I can tolerate him a little. " Rarity.

' He did become friends with Discord which makes me happy for Discord and I'll give him a chance because he became a friend to Discord. " Fluttershy said happily

"  I'll think about it... Naw ; Not ready to trust him just yet" Apple Jack said as she started to walk away.

Twilight just smiled. She was sure given enough time that Aircutter would become part of Ponyville and they were soon all walking home.

Aircutter looked as the lights disappeared into the night.

" Ok; I got to admit it's been a crazy day but I think I managed to make a friend or two but I will need to keep an eye on those six ponies and I do mean both eyes because I get the feeling they will need help... Sombra is still out there .. I just know it... The fight is not over yet.. Not as long as he has that one artifact that Starswirl's biggest enemy made... Not as long as the reborn gem is out there and the Starswirl eye cannot find it. I must be ready for the biggest reason I came here. To watch over the only ponies to ever defeat him.." Aircutter said as he got ready for a good night's sleep..

Cont..