It’s that time again!

Its chapter FOUR out of SIX (Even if it’s technically FIVE out of whatever number), and the finale is up next! This will be the last chapter before we hit Boast Busters! I’m going to prepare for the final bend and then we’ll be able to get some more flexible episode chapters.

When I feel like it.

This chapter is something of a little filler to show a little bit of the dynamic has changed. They’re close, but they’re at the cusp. They need that one push to go over the edge.

As for continuation of this story, it’s in the process of being an “Epilogue:” series of chapters where it’ll be, for example, “Epilogue: Apple Family Reunion”. So on and so forth. (By the way, that is going to happen! No if’s, and’s, or but’s. That’s an epilogue I’m looking forward to.)

Also this is going to be a chapter that runs alongside Griffon and the Brush Off. So if you’re wondering where we are in the episodic timeline, there you go. I’m going to be deepening the relationship to the rest of the Apple siblings and the CMC (plus possibly Spike), since Naruto and AJ are where I need them to be right now. He and Granny Smith have a sort of mentor and student accord going on, though it may not seem like much.

Now the humor is going to be hit-or-miss for one portion of the chapter. Whether you like it or not will be a coin toss, slight SOD is necessary. You’ll know when you get to it.

With all that said, let the story continue.

Disclaimer! : It’s in the first chapter. Why don’t you GO READ IT!

~X~

He swung his head to the side, as the piercer made itself present. Armed with nothing but his fists, he lunged forward under the belly of the beast as its tail flew overhead. He slid to its backside before jumping atop its back and slamming a palm between its wings, causing it to freeze in place.

He was on the move before the effect even started. His tails glowed as he strengthened them, elongating before finding purchase in ground, just as he secured his arms around the neck of the horns and mane.

“GGGGRRRRAAAHAAHHHH!” He shouted with a twist, flipping both Unique and Beast, before coming to a stop in full bent back position. The Beast’s form flopping over on its belly, letting out a groan. He came back to standing position, just as the magical beast wobbled to its feet.

*clap*3* “O-okay, that’s enough.” Came the voice of the butter-colored resident animal caretaker as she walked in between them, causing both sides to relax. She walked to the manticore, giving its head a good rub, before letting it go off into the Everfree Forest.

“Good-bye Corey!” The pony whispered-yelled as the manticore took its leave, the blond Unique coming up to her side giving her a raised eyebrow.

“I’m still more than a little confused, why I needed to do that,” Naruto stated, stretching all the while.

“Ah, well you see manticores in Everfree are few and far in between. They’re only so many of them in Equestria that when in contact with one another they see each other as-“ And the normally shy pony rambled on as they walked to her cottage, waving at the animals as they pressed past the small entrance into Everfree from Fluttershy’s backyard.

Seriously, some of these ponies lived with danger near their backyards! Why?! There’s Fluttershy’s backyard entrance into Everfree and then there’s the fencing by the Apple Orchard, which he could forgive, considering it was gigantic.

“-Corey just doesn’t have many others around for him to test himself against and since I figured you wouldn’t mind, you don’t do you?” She ended on a slightly worried note, to which he just shook his head.

Best not to get her worked up. Besides, he’d done worst to a few Magical Beasts before meeting her. Better to keep that to himself.

Luckily none of those beasts would ever be seen again, but that was beside the point. He assured her and stated he’d be leaving back to the Acres.

“Oh do you really have to go so soon? Mr. and Mrs. Faux Paws were so looking forward to you spending more time with them and their kits.” She stated as they continued through her house to her front door. He gave a smile to that, but apologized.

“Sorry, but I’ve kind of got some things planned with Big Mac for today. It’s been week since Applebuck Season ended, and I finally convinced him into hanging with me today.” He clapped his hands together in apology. She took in stride with a small smile.

“Oh, that’s fine. It’s good to see that you’ve finally been getting more open with the public. I know how hard that can be.” This sentence caused him to scratch the back of his head, unabashedly.

“Oh so you noticed that, huh.”

“You exhibit a lot of the habits that some of my animals show when they’re...ahem uncomfortable, around others.” He gave her a slightly shocked look.

Huh, guess the animal traits were far more than he originally thought they were. He'd honestly thought it was just his normal aversion to being looked at with not so angry stares.

~X~

“So yall are gonna be around town just hangin’ out?” The question came from Apple Bloom, who at this point in time was just getting home from school. It was a Friday, and with Applebuck Season being over and done with, chores were over pretty quickly. She looked over to the figures of Big Mac and Naruto standing by the doorway.

The two of them, dressed for their evening trip through the town, gave the rest of the Apple family pause. Big Macintosh was wearing a simple ensemble of dark blue jeans and black polo. Naruto meanwhile, wore a white long-sleeved dress shirt, the buttons at the top being opened to show slight amounts of his pectorals, with silver cargo shorts that came past his knees but also had a pair of small gold links running at the midpoint of each leg. Also his spiral insignia was sown onto the back of each article of clothing in dark teal.

Overall, they looked ready to go out into town and enjoy some good times. Though Applejack took special notice of Naruto’s clothes for more than just eye candy reasons.

“Them be clothes Rarity made fer ya, right?” Her question came out, causing the spiky haired blond of the group to confirm it.

“Yeah, though I swear to Celestia, I’m never showing her another of my skills again. Not after the…clone abuse.” He gave with a dead tone, his skin paling slightly. Jackie just gave him a look.

“Now Ah’m sure it wasn’t that bad.” She said with a hand wave.

His mind jumping back to when a prank went all wrong.

It was just supposed to be another damn prank. Sure he may not have learned to stop and think for a second in context of his current bearing with Rarity, but it was just to get back at her for the needle pokes!

His mind decided to ignore the fact that he’d chucked the first stone, so to speak, in this instance.

It was just going to be a small thing really! Just to mess with her for a bit. He planned on just having each one of the clones coming to her door and entering in while saying “hi”. Then, he’d pretty much josh her for a bit, before enjoying the expression on her face.

Things did not work out the way he wanted them to do. He’d expected a shocked expression, hell, even a dropped jaw! What he got was HORROR.

He’d remember after he was done, that he and his clones lined up and gave her a mocking salute, before they all shot back in fear.

Rarity’s expression at the time could only be considered…monstrous. Her face had been shadowed over, with the only thing being visible were two shining circles where her eyes use to be, and a disturbing shining, up-facing crescent moon in place of her mouth.

“Oh Naruto~!” Her voice seemed to come out distorted, and its pitch was seemingly garbled and disgustingly saccharine.

Oh fuck all kinds of duck.

He shuddered in memory. It was from then on that Rarity would call on him to help model for her male clothes line in repayment for the prank from six years ago.

So much fabric.

“Whatever you say Jackie, just remember this. Once she has you in her grasp, she’ll suck out your soul and turn you into a ponnequien.” He voiced out in suppressed terror. Applejack just shook her head at him and came to the door.

“Well that’s mighty nice of ya, Mac over here doesn’t get out nearly as much as Ah wish he did,” The middle Apple sibling stated, to which Big Mac gave her a narrow eyed look, to which she responded with a sheepish chuckle.

“Uh, come on big brother. Ya know I only want what’s best fer ya?” It came out more like a question, to which he raised an eyebrow.

“Now Ah’m sure Ah don’t need to worry about “getting out” any more than necessary.” The red stallion said in certainty.

“Ah didn’t mean it like that! Ah just meant ya could use more guy friends is all, and Ah’m sure you and Naruto can bond a bit is all Ah’m saying.”

“That’s mighty fine. Ah have no problem with havin’ male friends in Ponyville, and Ah ain’t got no problem with Naruto. Guy’s been a pretty alright fella since he’s been here.” The eldest Apple sibling stated, causing the Unique to his side to grumble in slight indignation.

“I’ve always been an alright, upright dude! Come on Jackie, back me up on this! Uh…” He’d made himself known, and when he turned to AJ for some support, he found himself at a loss of words for the dry, half-lidded look she sent his way.

“Sugarcube, ya were a thief.”

“A thief with morals!” He retorted. Her expression didn’t change.

“A thief all the same.”

“All ya’ll just haters!” He grumbled before turning, opening the door and nearly walking straight into the duo of Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

“Whoa! What are you two doing here?” He questioned the fillies. Apple Bloom and Granny Smith came to the door, before turning to face the trio of Applejack, Big Mac and Naruto.

“We’re going to be helping Granny Smith go shoppin’ today.” The Apple filly said, before joining the two other fillies in cheer.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders SHOPPERS! YAY!” They zoomed off ahead, towards the fence, leaving three gobsmacked expressions in their trail.

“…”

“…”

“Well…That’s a thing now?” Naruto couldn’t help but ask.

~X~

Later on it was just him and Big Mac, seeing as Applejack left off somewhere around entering Ponyville proper to check in with Twilight and Co. Though she didn’t leave before taking him to the side and giving him a few words.

“Listen Naruto,” Applejack started, absentmindedly fixing his the collar of his shirt. “Ah really want you and Big Mac to really bond, ya know become friends, pals even.”

“Jackie, why you stressing this, it’s ME and Mac! We’re just going to just do what guys do…Which I actually don’t know yet, but we’ll figure it out!” He said, giving her a confused gaze. She tossed him one right back, though it had a tick of anxiousness thrown in.

“Whadya mean? Ah haven’t been stressin’ nothin’…right?” She started off strong, but it trailed off into an unsure remark.

“Well, I’d say so, otherwise I have to say you must REALLY like the collar of this shirt. You’ve been fixing it for the past 3 minutes.” He explained, causing her to look at her hands in shock. The digits wrangled in the cloth of the shirt top, before they jumped off as if burned. She turned her head to the side to hide her blush, hands now unoccupied. He tilted his head to the side, but catching the profile of her blushing face, caused his own to heat up in response before he looked off to the other side.

This conversation didn’t end up being of the comfortable sort.

He shook his head of the memory, before he focused more on what he and Mac were going to be doing with their time in Ponyville.

“So Mac, what’s the plan on the agenda for today? I’d offer an idea, but you know why I can’t,” He started conversation. Not as hard as getting Twilight to speak up, but the method was a lot harder in comparison. To start…

What did he really know about Big Mac?

As long as he’s “known” the Apple family, he’s been able to glimpse plenty of the personas of the family of farmers, and could normally nail them down pretty decently.

Granny Smith was an elder, and she usually enjoyed just watching things for the most part. Were she here, he’d just offer to roll her throughout the town and they’d sightsee.

Apple Bloom was even easier, in that she often was just curious about most anything. Especially if it involved Cutie Marks. He could probably have a solid conversation with her about his thoughts on the how’s and why’s of the much vested after flank & hand tattoo.

Applejack was a lot of things. Stubborn, athletic, hard-working, compassionate and also VERY family-orientated. For the most part though, he could get her talking a bit about farm-life and have that trail off into other topics. Though the whole Elements of Harmony thing, always threw him for a loop. He’d seriously need to get a close look at one soon.

Back to the matter at hand, for the most part he knew Big Mac was family-orientated. Being a big bro to Jackie was a huge clue on where she got it from, though she might have developed a sort of obsession over it.

He loved being on the farm…okay so just like AJ, save for the fact that Mac’s pride was on the farm. Naruto doesn’t think he could keep up a conversation on farm work for too long, without trying to edge it into uncomfortable directions.

What else did he know about him? Big Macintosh was the biggest stallion he ever knew. Strongest he’d seen up to this point as well, so maybe that could work. He returned from his thoughts as Macintosh started talking to him.

“…Nothing really comes to mind, though I guess we can walk around for a bit until something hits,” the red vibrant red stallion said, as he and Naruto walked through the square. They moved along the streets, passing some stalls which held a variety of things from produce to clothing.

“I’m surprised by the fact that this place isn’t running into some disaster right now. It’s like this place has some craziness kicking in every other week. First that whole Nightmare Moon thing I heard about, then there was that mobbing of Twilight and her friends with those weird tickets for some Gola thing. Then there was the stampede and Jackie going crazy and running us ragged during Applebuck Season.” The blond ran down the list of events, each black finger ticking off respectively.

“Hmm, though Ah do reckon there’s plenty of happenstances around here, Ponyville’s still one of the homier, more peaceful places in all of Equestria.” He responded, though he also had a question.

“How’d ya miss the Sun Celebration festival? How’d you miss Nightmare Moon even?”

The Unique scratched the back of his head, before he explained.

“Well back then, I was still in the Deeper Depths. Stuff was getting weird around there, there was a strange kind of magic being absorbed into the forest and I was trying to keep track of it. That went…” He stayed silent, his expression darkening, before it changed back to a slight frown.

“It didn’t really go anywhere, after a giant flash of light from your guys’ end, most of the energy disappeared. From there I just gave up on it.” He ended with a shrug, leaving Big Mac to ponder the spiky blonde’s brief downward spiral in emotion. Before he decided it wasn’t his place to bring it up.

They’d kept walking down the street before coming upon the form of Spike resting on a bench outside of Sugarcube Corner. The drake was enjoying a cupcake with green icing and an emerald on its side, dressed in purple long sleeves, and the same shorts from before.

The two figured they might get something to eat, during which they could decide on what to do. The drake waved them over, once he noticed them.

“Hey guys! I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“No problem Spike, we were honestly just walking around looking for something to do at this point.” The former-apple thief said. He told Big Mac to get them whatever he felt like, while the shorter blond chatted up Spike.

“Really? That’s pretty cool I guess, I mean it’s probably great to just hang around and be guys.” Twilight’s assistant responded, his own treat finished with one more bite, before he licked his lips clean.

“Yeah, thing is, I’m not sure how to go about “hanging out as just guys”. Still new to this whole “social etiquette” thing.” Naruto stated, while scratching the back of his noggin. It's not like he had ever really had the time back in the Elemental Nations once he'd become a Genin with everyone else. It was usually one back to back situation with another. That's also not factoring in his previous pariah status.

“Well think of it like just hanging around doing stuff friends normally do. Except it’s you know, “Guy Time”.”

“Well what does that even mean? I mean me and AJ hang out, but she’s a girl, so does that make it different?” The blond asked, making Spike cross his arms and close his eyes.

“It’s sort of different. It’s like, a time when guys can be just themselves around each other? It’s really hard to explain…Um, guess, it’s just like being friends with your buddies, who are guys. Normally with no girls involved.” Spike wasn’t sure if this would get across to the spiky blonde, but did his utmost to get him informed.

Naruto sort of understood what Spike was getting at. It was sort of true, though Naruto didn’t really make it so he acted any differently around anyone, so he was just an oddity. At least he assumed so. It was at that point Big Mac made his exit out of the store, two milkshakes in hand.

“Thanks.” Naruto said, receiving one of the offered beverage treats.

“Hey Big Mac.” Spike greeted the eldest of the group, who nodded in return.

“Howdy Spike, Ah’m surprised to see you out and ‘bout like this.”

“Yeah, well today Twilight decided that she wanted to go reading in the park, and we closed down the library. I came here to just enjoy my day, but I’ve honestly got no idea what to do with myself.” The small dragon said, idly kicking his legs.

It was at that point Naruto had an idea.

“Well why don’t you hang with us? That is if Mac doesn’t mind,” Naruto offered, giving the eldest Apple sibling a questioning look, to which he smiled and nodded his head. Spike grinned, before jumping to his feet.

“Cool! U-um, I mean, if you want to, that’d be uh….cool?” It came out like a question to which both older males of the group just chuckled. The now duo turned trio ventured off into Ponyville once more, making idle chatter or in Macintosh’s case grunts and snorts, as they ventured the town.

“Well, why don’t we just throw out some stuff, and see if we can get an idea out of it?” Asked Spike, as the trio of males walked past the market area. Saying “hi” to a walking by Fluttershy, who was leading some ducks across the way.

“Hmm, training?” Naruto threw out, making the other two look at him.

“Trainin’ like what kind?” His ears perked, even Spike was leaning in as they listened the second oldest male of the group.

“In Everfree, especially the deeper section, I always had to keep up my conditioning, nay even more, had to push my limits so I’m never the next piece of lunch for some kind of hungry creature in that place. So anything of that nature would do.” He ended with a shrug.

“Hmm,” the bright red stallion hummed hand, bearing his Cutie Mark, rubbing his chin.

“Ah might know where we can go.”

~X~

They arrived at what looked like a gymnasium. The building was mainly white. The structure being round upfront, but extending out back into a rectangle, with a field out back. The top of the structure had pictures, of towels and a power bar, in the forms of light blue clouds and soap suds.

The trio entered the double doors in front, coming to a large square room. The area had two hallway entrances with the signs of “Spa” and “Gym” on the left and right, respectively. In front of the doorway was a counter where a blue furred, pink haired Earth Pony female stood.
With a white top that came down to just above her knees, and a bandanna to hold back her hair, Aloe greeted the trio with a smile and greeting.

“Welcome to Sores, Pores, and More. I’m Aloe, and how may I help you today?” She greeted them, looking over the group, eyes turning curious as they landed on Naruto but friendly nonetheless.

“Howdy there miss Aloe. We were just planning on doing some workouts while we were here.” The large stallion said, as he came up to the counter and signed the three of them up. Once done, they were directed to the right hallway. After entering they came to the sight of dozens upon dozens of exercising equipment. From Treadmills to incline press to the ab burner. Some machines were in use by various other groups of stallions and mares, or singular folk. In the corner lay a boxing ring, where a group of stallions lay about, with punching bags strung across the area and several in the ring practicing the art of fisticuffs.

Taking this in the group entered the dressing room, before coming out in the workout clothes. Matching white muscle shirts and blue sweatpants. Blue headbands and towels thrown over their necks.

“So what’s first on the regimen, Big Mac?” Said Spike, as they oved along the row of machines, coming to an area free of any sort of machinery before they spread out to start stretching. Big Mac grunted as he reached down to touch his horseshoes.

“Well I reckon we go down the list of exercises. First off…”

Going from the Incline, to the leg press to treadmills until they came down to the bench press. They were sore by the time they reached the station of four benches. One of which was currently in use.

“YEAH!”

By an abnormally muscled white Pegasus(?). With the pony’s white coat, blond crew cut and red eyes, even decked out in the same as them looked beyond their muscle class.

“Howdy Bulk,” Big Mac up to the side of the bench greeting the body builder in a familiar fashion. His name was Bulk “Snowflake” Biceps, if they heard him yelling it right. When they said they were going to be using the machines around his person, he readily agreed. Even offering to spot for Mac as Naruto spotted Spike.

“So this is “Guy Time”?” Naruto observed, as he held his hands out slightly, prepared to catch the bar should Spike fail to bring it up. The drake was going strong with one 45 on each end, bringing him up to 135 lbs in total.

“Y-yea…It’s part of…it,” The youngest of the group grunted out, as he strained coming up to 20 reps before he let Naruto help him put the bar back into place and throw him a towel. The blond switched into place after adding 55 to each end of the bar, before setting into position. He started to pump away, looking at Big Mac and Bulk as the red stallion was pumping 3 45’s on each end with moderate amounts of effort.

“It’s a lot more complicated than just this, but you can’t really categorize Guy Time as anything other than guys being bros with each other and sort of competing with one another.” The dragon stated, eyes moving up and down in time with the bar. The spiky haired one hitting 10 without stopping.

“Being bros with each other,” The blond said absentmindedly, before he grew a look of determination. He looked over to where Big Mac and Bulk were, noticing the fact that they were currently resting and chatting. He set the bar back into place before sitting up.

Time to take this to the next level.

~X~

“Seems like things are going well fer ya,” Macintosh said as he set the bar back into place.

“Yeah! Things have been going good for me! The spa twins have noticed my expertise,” The muscular pony said, as he pumped some hand weights.

“Mighty fine of ‘em to be so accomodatin’ of ya. The top of the building says it all.” He rubbed down with the towel in hand.

“Whose the weird guy and little dragon?” The question made the two of them look over to Naruto and Spike, as the latter helped the former attach more weights to both ends before they ended up with 3 45’s on each end.

“Hmm, he’s a family friend whose helping out on the farm, nice guy for as long as Ah’ve known ‘im. The little dragon there’s Spike. He’s the assistant of the new pony who moved in some months ago, Ms. Sparkle.” Big Mac said, both of them watching as the blond proceeded to lift the weights slowly but steadily, with Spike spotting him. The Unique blond saw their looks, and gave a wink before continuing his counting, which made Big Mac’s eyes narrow for a moment.

“Well they seem to be pushing some serious iron! Yeah!” The bulky Pegasus said, as he was now doing two handed push-ups. Arms moving in tandem, and smooth motions.

“Eeyup. Applejack seemed to be real happy about us hangin’ out today. Ah’m pretty sure she had some hand in this. Was going on about how Ah don’t got many friends and such.” With that said, Big Mac went back to lifting his weights, but not before adding on two more tens to both sides of the bar to the twitching eye of one Unique.

He tried not to smirk.

“So you don’t like him?” One handed push-ups.

Mac let out a grunt as he began pumping once more, eyes focused, even if he one of them flickered to the blond and dragon across the way.

“Between you and me, Naruto’s an A’ ok guy, pretty friendly if he’s familiar enough with ya, He’s not really super social, but he wants AJ happy, and she wants me and him to bond over stuff. Not that Ah wouldn’t want him as a friend, but Ah think he’s just as clueless about how to go about it as she is.” He hit 10 reps, and let out deep breaths.

“So he doesn’t get guy stuff?”

“Pretty much.”

“Him and your sister close? Oh yeah little guy! PUMP THAT IRON!” Bulk asked, before shouting encouragement over to Spike who was trying and failing to push up the bar with 1 45 and 25 on each end. Naruto was doing his best to help, but didn’t seem to know where to stop helping, Spike telling him to let up and then not let up every few seconds.

“Well that’s the thing. Ah’m pretty sure the two of ‘em are head over hooves for one another. Heck they got this little routine where they keep looking away from one another and start blushing if left alone for too long.” They both noted that Naruto helped lay Spike out on the ground for some rest before the blond had a copy of himself help start pumping. The 3 45’s from before were back, with the blond adding 20 to each side and pumping again.

He gave Mac a huge grin, as he made it seem like he was doing it with ease, though both stallions could see him straining to maintain the façade. Though Macintosh couldn't help the snort that came to his nose, before he got up and replaced the additional 10’s on each sides with 25’s.

Bulk Biceps, seeing this, couldn’t help but grin. So this was happening, was it? Alright then.

~X~

Aloe knew she was in for a spectacle when she came to check up on Bulk’s portion of the building. That stallion seemed to have a knack for having various kinds of crazy happening every other week. Whether it be that spontaneous fight club phase that seemed to have happen over here that one time, or the time that they managed to try and turn this into a pub. Or even the races that they had.

She chalked it up to normal Ponyville zaniness. She still didn’t understand where the Pegasus had found the time to repaint the entire gym that week without anyone noticing. She just chalked that mystery up to Pinkie help.

When in doubt, blame Pinkie.

So when she came into the gymnasium portion of the structure she felt like she was in for a treat.

Oh how right she was.

“YEAH! Next batch of bodies!”

She really hoped there was some less than gruesome context to that sentence. She didn’t want to walk in on another cult demonstration!

She found a crowd a stallions encircling the boxing area, though that’s not what caught her attention once she came to the station. It was more the pile of groaning bodies that lay on either side of the ring, in which stood two figures.

The two eldest of that trio she had seen from earlier hung on opposite ends of the ring. Both sat in their corners half-naked, with both of them substituting their pants for some shorts, and having athletic tape wrapped around their palms. They breathed easily as they looked across the ring to one another, before they stood up in unison, giving each other a beckoning look.

“Hey Bulk! I don’t think anyone else wants to go a round with either of them anymore.” That sounded like the dragon from earlier, whom she found standing on the side by Bulk Biceps.

She made a beeline towards him post-haste.

“Very true young Spike, there are no more competitors but those left in the ring!” Bulk seemed to be smiling as the two in the ring stood up. Each of them attaching to their hands the gloves that sat by their corners. Those gloves special made for the MMMA. The Magical Mixed Martial Artes display tournaments she had heard about being held in the some of the more urban places of Equestria. Cottinghoof, Manespire and Manehatten to name a few.

She remember Bulk asking for special permission to be able to host few matches here and then but she and Lotus always denied them with the reasoning that the sport was simply too dangerous to hold here. Bulk after much consideration had compromised, but they still got him the gloves for the sake of the normal MMA.

She was so happy that they had waivers for this kind of thing. She swore some of the ponies in this town just loved getting themselves into some sort of danger.

Especially the stallions. Though she would admit that they could get quite the crowd of mares down here whenever they had one of bulk’s rare MMA nights.

So many bits! She honestly couldn’t refuse! Oh dear she was getting ahead of herself again.

“Ah Ms. Aloe, how goes it.” He turned to her with an amicable expression to which she returned.

“Good evening Bulk, I was just checking in to make sure everything was going well-“

*Groans*

“Relatively speaking,” she finished with a sheepish smile.

“Things are going most adequately! The two in the arena are the only ones left, and they seemed prepared to throw down! YEAH!” He stated, causing the three to the side to take notice of the fact that the two had come together to bump gloves.

“You may have won the Bench Press, but I got Treadmill! Don’t expect this to go to you just because you’re a little big.” The spiky blond said, as they brought both gloves together, before separating. He took stance across from Mac, mirroring the red stallion’s boxing position.

“Ah am called BIG Macintosh for a reason. ‘Sides it’s not like you were giving it your all. Yall got yer magic to fall back on.” It may have sounded like complaining but the stallion, had a small smile.

“I won’t use it because it’s not fair! Far be it from me to use something you can’t control to my advantage, now put up your dukes! This settles it!” The blond said as they slowly started to circle one another.

As they began what would be considered the Brawl of Manly Males™, the three at the sides looked on.

“I’m going to be perfectly honest and say that some of you stallions really don’t know when to quit.” Came Aloe’s statement, as the duo in the ring began to trade blows. Both physical and verbal.

“Hah! Mah grandma throws better punches than you!” Big Mac’s barb was met with crossed arms as Naruto blocked his straight.

“How dare you! My punches are the fists that shall move the heavens!” He responded with a jab to the stallion’s solar plexus.

“Pow! Right to the Solar Plexus!”

Meanwhile…

“Hey Dash you hear that?” Questioned the gryphon, and Dash’s past flight school compatriot.

“Yeah, sounds like somepony just got punched in the Solar Plexus.”

“Oi mate! Ah don’t take too kindly to that!”

“Ohh stuff it in ya britches ya blimey! Have at you!”

Aloe wasn’t exactly sure what she was listening to, so she turned to the two at her side for an explanation. Spike chose to do the speaking.

“Well the best way to simplify it is this. Welcome to the world male bonding. A world full of bad cheesy accents, stock references and hammy one liners.” The drake spoke with a flourish.

“MUDA MUDA MUDA!”

“ORRYYYAAAA!”

Aloe decided that she’d just enjoy the spectacle.

Phhfft! Males.

~X~

“Ahhh~” x 3. The three of them couldn’t help but release a sigh of relief as they left the building. Arms stretched above their heads in unison, back in their normal clothes the trio continued on into another part of the town. Naruto moved his arms in circles, as he lifted his head to the sky, revealing a couple of bruises and a black eye. Big Mac himself wasn’t without his fair share of pains either. The stallion was sure he had more than a few scuffs around the eyes and had some bruising near his abdomen.

Spike just walked between them, claws in his pants pockets, whistling a tune.

“So what’s next up on the agenda gentlemen? We have some sunlight left to burn, and I’m not expected until later.” Spike announced, as they discussed outside of S.P.M.

The two of them looked to the other with an unsure expression.

“You guys take a pick then. I had my turn, and I’m sure we don’t want to keep going with my idea if we keep ending up like this.” Naruto said, before gesturing towards his own bruised appearance. When they got home he planned on applying some good healing to the both, or all if necessary, of the injured of the groups.

“I say Big Mac take this one! It’s not like I was originally part of this, so he gets seniority. Besides I’m pretty sure we don’t have that much time left in the day.” Stated Spike, as they turned to the Sun. It lay somewhere between evening and night.

“…” Macintosh thought out their next plan of action, wondering what they could do when it was getting this late in the day. Walking around town wouldn’t really offer much time to do another thing. They needed a location, and now.

The three of them looked up once they heard the doors to Spa/Gymnasium open and close. They found Bulk, in white tank top, red cap, and light blue jeans, looking at them with a violin case in his hands.

“Mac? Naruto? Young Spike? You guys are still here?” The largely muscled Pegasus asked, as he walked over to them.

“Bulk? Don’t you have work?” Naruto responded back with a question of his own. The tallest of the four of them grinned at him, before showing his case.

“Today’s one of my early days. Plus it’s Friday! YEAH! Time for some rocking at the Music Mausoleum!” He announced with his signature catchphrase, the others well used to his antics at this point.

Big Mac’s eyes lit up, as those words left Bulk’s mouth.

Eeyup.

~X~

They had added Bulk to their little entourage of males. Idle chatter easier now that the group had evened out. It was in little time that they found themselves in front of the Music Mausoleum. Large and rectangular with a bit of a fin-like protrusion near the back, its front had an enlarged short section of a music sheet with each stage of note on it.

They entered through the black and yellow double doors before making way to the counter up front. They met their second rectangular area of the day, but it was almost similar set up, difference being that the two hallways here had “Amphitheater” and “Sound Halls”; Left and right respectively. Signing themselves into the registry, before entering down the hallway to the right of the clerk’s counter.

“It’s been a while since Ah’ve been down here. Last time Ah came here was back near the middle of Applebuck Season to practice with the other Pony Tones.” Big Mac said with a smile, as the group of fur passed a room with a pony dressed as some sort of Valkyrie trying to hit a high C.

“Really? Why’d you stop going?” Spike asked, as they passed another room, whose door was locked, which held a group of teenage fillies doing karaoke. A very familiar group of teenage fillies.

“Applebloom?/Scootaloo?/Sweetie Belle?” Came the questions of Mac, Spike and Naruto respectively. The males stopping for a moment to look through the door window to watch the fillies.

It seemed like Sweetie Belle was trying to coach the other two through a series of lyrics, if the fact that she was wagging her finger at them was anything to go by. They felt themselves jump as they heard a scraggy female voice behind them.

“Big Mac? Naruto?”

“Whua?!” The grouped jumped, with Naruto and Big Mac noticing the other familiar voice.

“Granny Smith? X2” Both took notice of the mirth on her lips, before sheepishly chuckling. She cackled a bit.

“Ahehehe, Ah wasn’t expectin’ to see you two here. Ah thought yall’d be off doing who knows what elsewhere! Especially if those shiners are anything to go by.” She spoke, taking in their bruised forms. Greeting Spike and Bulk with a nod, to which she received a “hello” and a “Yeah!” in return.

“Ah, nothing big Granny. We actually came here to find something to do.” Mac said, as they proceeded to walk into the room with Granny leading.

“Come on you guys, you gotta just- Granny! Big Mac? Spike? Naruto? And Big Pegasus Pony I’ve never met before!” Sweetie Belle squeaked out, even as the half of whom she named took a look around the room.

“This place is real nice.” Naruto commented as he took in the room proper, his voice echoing slightly, Spike at his side.

“Man you’d think I would have knew about a place like this already. The walls are definitely-” Spike started before Bulk completed his sentence.

“Sound proof! Also built to help throw the sounds you’re making right back at you!” The bulky Pegasus said, as he demonstrated by taking out his violin, and playing a small tune. Those in the room closed their eyes and listened in before he finished.

“Sounds like ya got plenty of practice here Bulk. Mighty fine tune ya playin’ there.” Mac said, as the Pegasus stallion in the room grinned.

“5 years!” The reply was said with his normal enthusiasm, meanwhile Spike went over to the Crusaders.

“Spike? Ah did’t expect to find you wit’ mah brother and Naruto! You weren’t there when they left earlier today?” Apple Bloom pointed out with a tilt of her head.

“Yeah, I know. We met outside of Sugarcube Corner, and they asked me to come along! After that we’ve just been going around doing whatever.” He finished his explanation with a shrug, idly looking over at Naruto who was having the concept of “karaoke” pounded into his skull by Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo making some entertainment for herself as she spun around on a rotating seat. Eyes closed with headphones around her ears.

“I didn’t expect to see you guys here either. What’s been going on?”

“Nothin’ really. We were actually helping Granny get some groceries, but she had a scare in the market. Something about a rattler, or ‘nother. We brought the stuff back home, and Granny thought we could spend the day just walking around until we found this place.” She stated, legs kicking from her own seat on a rotating seat.

“Then Sweetie Belle got all googly eyed, and dragged us in here. Since then we’ve been in here ever since!”

“Hey! I’ve thought it was fun for us! Don’t gotta make it sound like I dragged you here against you will,” Sweetie said, as she and Naruto rolled up to them. Scootaloo, deaf to the world around her, just kept spinning, her seat going in the reverse direction.

“Ya it was fun until ya started tryin’ to be all “perfect finch” with us!”

“It’s perfect “pitch”, and I just wanted you guys to be able to follow me on vocals!” Sweetie stated with a huff, and crossed arms, Bloom longing out her tongue in her direction. The two continued the childish display of annoyed faces at each other, before they were interrupted by Granny.

“Now hold your horses, everypony! This is a place for love of music, and nothin’ else! Now friends don’t need to act like that!” The elder said with a disapproving frown. The two fillies looked to each other before sighing.

“Sorry” x 2.

“Now why don’t yall come down from there and let Big Mac and them make some music fer us,” Granny said, to the shock of Naruto, Spike and the CMC. That was before the trio of fillies hurried off, and sitting down facing the males expectantly. Them and Granny finding seats on the wall chairs affable enough for their liking.

The blond and drake kind of sat there for a moment before turning to a smirking Bulk and Macintosh.

“We’re doing WHAT?”

~X~

“Still can’t believe we’re doing this,” Naruto said, as he felt the length of the guitar strap slung over his shoulder. His fingers flicking slightly against the strings, as he turned his head in Big Mac’s direction. The earth pony stallion just let out a small smile, hands holding both drumsticks in front of him.

“I’m more surprised Naruto knows how to play guitar,” Spike commented, as he cracked his fingers over the keyboard, as he looked over to Bulk who’d just finished setting up the microphone near his person. Bulked had changed into a short sleeved, yellow shirt and black dress pants, muscles stressing the shirt slightly with each arm movement.

“Always be ready for surprises little dragon!”

“Though Ah gotta ask, since when could you play guitar?” Mac said, as he absentmindedly started tapping his drumsticks in no discernable rhythm. Naruto looked upward in thought for a moment, before shrugged.

“My teacher always said that I needed a “cool down” from the Everfree from time to time. So he gave me some options. Either write something, meditate or make music. I went with the least boring of the three.” He responded, not telling them just where he had found a guitar of all things. Let them imagine he made one.

Better to keep the truth behind closed doors they say.

“So how are we doing this?” The spiky blond asked, as that had them all the males in the room to freeze at that moment.

“Hmm, Ah hadn’t gotten that far. Ah thought Ah’d have to fight you guys to get up here,” the red stallion of the group said, as he rubbed his chin.

“Well why don’t we treat this like we did with today’s decisions?” Spike suggested, running off a few notes, claws flickering in between each key with familiarity.

“I can dig some improvisation.” The large Pegasus male said, as those on stage nodded to one another.

“Come on yall! What’s the hold up?” Apple Bloom.

“You guys need to just play something already!” Scootaloo.

“Make sure it’s something catchy! Like SUPER catchy!” Sweetie Belle.

“Ahehehehe.” Good ol’ Granny Smith.

“Alright, alright… Bulk and Spike, lead us in.” Naruto said, as he adjusted his mike in front of him. It was with this cue that Spike nodded to Bulk, before he played a long soft set of note with Bulk’s violin sounding along with him. A little after they started Naruto began with some vocals.

~CLOSER Joe Inoue English Cover~

All that is near us we must know (Naruto)
Could disappear any day be careful (Naruto)
The main key to finding happiness (Naruto)
Lies nowhere else but in my soul (Naruto). Not a moment after these words were said, did the farm worker and Unique jump into the beat with their own instruments.

You could reminisce you could recall (Naruto)
The very last time you felt joy (Naruto)
Or maybe you are so blessed to a point (Naruto)
Where you can't remember anything (Naruto)

It's a harmony, a miracle (Naruto)
Being able to breathe and live at all (Naruto)
So here is your one and only chance (Naruto)
Life is an opportunity (Naruto)

All that is near us we must know (All)
Could disappear any day be careful (All)
The main key to finding happiness (All)
Lies nowhere else but in my soul (All)

You know the closer you get to something (All)
The tougher it is to see it (All)
And I’ll never take it for granted (All)
Let’s go! (All)

Some people may call a kind deed (Spike)
An act of mere hypocrisy (Spike)
But never mind those who have lost faith (Spike)
You shouldn't give in to what they say (Spike)

As a matter of fact let me tell you (Naruto)
Even if it was a selfish choice (Naruto)
A salvageable hypocrisy (Naruto)
Is superior to murderous honesty (Naruto)

Everybody tells you from time to time (Naruto/Big Mac)
To never give up like a phrase from a movie (Naruto/Big Mac)
They tell you to stand up for yourself (Naruto/Big Mac)
As if it was always that easy (Naruto/Big Mac)

Gather a handful of courage in my heart (All)
To go on and survive another day (All)
And I’ll never take it for granted (All)
Let’s go! (All)

It was here that Bulk pulled through with a solo, accompanied by Spike. Naruto and Big Mac falling slightly into the background, though Naruto wasn’t inactive as he motioned with his tails towards the CMC who were quick to come forward. Sweetie Belle with her violin on hand stood beside Bulk, before following along. Apple Bloom was quick to jump to Big Mac’s side where he allowed her to hit the Bass drum.

Scootaloo taking a seat beside Spike simply followed along with a swinging tempo, shoulder to shoulder with the young drake as he moved his claws up and down the keyboard. The blond Unique grinned at the additions before he and Big Mac started to pick up in tempo and volume.

All that is near us we must know (All)
Could disappear any day be careful (All)
The main key to finding happiness (All)
Lies nowhere else but in my soul (All)

You know the closer you get to something (All)
The tougher it is to see it (All)
And I’ll never take it for granted (All)

Everybody tells you from time to time (All)
To never give up like a phrase from a movie (All)
They tell you to stand up for yourself (All)
As if it was always that easy (All)

Gather a handful of courage in my heart (All)
To go on and survive another day (All)
And I’ll never take it for granted (All)
Let’s go! (All)

The music died down, the group let out slight hoots and cheers, the CMC being the most vocal about it.

“That was so cool!” Scootaloo said, Hi-5-ing Spike, as she and the rest of the CMC cheered.

“That felt amazing! The sounds~ the vocals~ the sync-synco- We worked great together!” Sweetie Belle said as she giggled in barely contained excitement. Bulk grinning all the while.

“Ah didn’t yall and Big Mac could play and sing like that!” Apple Bloom said, as Big Mac ruffled her crimson red mane. Scootaloo jumped up with excitement, hands waving to and fro.

“We gotta do one more! Except bigger! It’s gotta be 20% more awesome than this!” She stated to the amusement of those in the room.

“Now Ah don’t want to know how we could top what we just did. It’d have to be pretty good,” Big Mac said, with the males around him nodding in agreement.

“Easy!”

~X~

It wasn’t even that much later when they found themselves in a bigger room farther down the hall, though this one didn’t have any door. The walls of this room were lined with more instruments than the one from before. The stage in here was FAR bigger than the one in the room before for sure.

Yet, that wasn’t what apparent grabbed the CMC’s attention, who rushed over to a corner of the room with a door on it. It wasn’t even a second later that they went through the door before they came back out with a cart of...costumes?

“These’ll do the trick! Now quick we have an awesome theme to for you guys!” Scootaloo said, even as she pushed Spike and Naruto towards said cart.

The two gave each other a side stare.

A moment later they were dressed in what could only be considered as “Colorful Pirate” gear. Wearing an assortment of color coated pirate clothes: Naruto was wearing a red captain’s jacket and pants with a straw hat on his head, Spike was adorned in dark blue open top and pants with fur lining the shirt opening and a dark blue hat.

Big Mac was in a green ensemble with a mishmash green jacket that had light green fur lining its front. Bulk wore a light blue set up, with a dark blue bandana that held fake dreads in its depths. He had also switched out his violin for a horn.

The CMC even switched out for costumes. With Sweetie Belle is an, modified to be modest, purple get up with a medium sized hat with fake fur lining its edges. Scootaloo was in a sleeveless yellow mini-captain’s jacket, with a ruffle of white cloth at her neck, along with a tiny captain’s hat. Apple Bloom found herself in an orange, white and yellow coat that closed around the waist that bled down into a pink skirt, orange hat with a ruffled feather bit in its place on her head.

Even Granny wore a costume of a really glossy dark purple with a slightly large captain’s hat on her head, as she sat in front of them.

“This get-up seems weird in the strangest way.” Naruto said, even as Spike gave him a look.

“In what way? Besides I’d assume strange and weird went hand in hand.”

“I don’t know I just felt like there’s a really weird irony to this get-up,” The blond said with a shrug, guitar strap ever taut. Scootaloo just pumped her fist in the air from her place next to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. The CMC stood with their own triplet of microphones by them at their place in the center of the stage, each with a small trumpet in their hands.

“Let’s get this party started! Big Mac and Spike hit!” The aforementioned by Scootaloo nodded at each other, before they started, shortly followed by Naruto, Bulk and Scootaloo herself.

~Wake Up (OP Opening 17, feat. Daniel Alvarez, MOMOKI and Amanda Lee) English Cover~ (Fun Fact: The group are all dressed like one of the characters in the picture for this YT video, make a match)

Come'on, We're Shining! Running! Forever! (Naruto)
The Sea is calling out, so ride the waves (Naruto)
We're all together as one, so let's set sail in the sun. (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
All our dreams our never-ending, so let's (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up! (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
HeartBeat! We will be One! Go ahead! (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)

Even though our hearts have traveled different paths (Naruto)
(We are best friends) (CMC)
Our Freedom is our only compass that's pointing us (Naruto)
Along the many roads that come together. (Naruto)
We will keep on running forward every day (Naruto)
(Go east, Go west) (CMC)
As long as we keep looking to the horizon, we'll see everything all crystal clear (Naruto/…CMC)

We're all so thrilled that we can't wait until the dawn arrives (Sweetie Belle)
(I can't wait)(Scootaloo/Apple Bloom)
So we'll just bring the sun ourselves and know, (Apple Bloom/…Scootaloo)
"If the wind's blow is leading where we should be going, go!" (CMC)

That's Right, We're Shining! Running Forever! (Naruto)
All of our dreams will merge into one piece (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
No matter where we go, we'll be fine and free (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
Cause all our treasure is our strength (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)

Come'on, We're Shining! Running, Forever! (All)
The Sea is calling out, so ride the waves (All)
We're all together as one, so let's set sail in the sun. (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
All our dreams our never-ending, so let's (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up! (All)
HeartBeat! We will be One! Go ahead! (All)

*Instrumental*

We'll ride non-stop and travel farther than we've ever gone (Sweetie Belle)
(I can't Stay) (Scootaloo/Apple Bloom)
And then, tomorrow, we will find suspense, (Apple Bloom/...Scootaloo)
And then commence, (Apple Bloom/Scootaloo)
To live out another day so intense (Apple Bloom/Scootaloo)

That's Right, We're Shining! Running Forever! (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
Let's Go along with curiosity (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)
Our feelings lead the way straight to a brand new day (Naruto)
And to another adventure! (Naruto/Sweetie Belle)

Come'on, We're Shining! Running Forever! (Naruto/CMC)
Open the map inside your heart and see (Naruto/CMC)
No matter where we end up, our bonds will never give up (Naruto/CMC)
There's a fire in our dreams, and you can (Naruto/CMC)
Never, Never, Never, Never Stop It! (Naruto/CMC)
We Will Be One, Go Ahead! (All)

*Whistles, clapping, cheers*

They finished off with a shout of joy, to which they found themselves surprised by a load of applause they got from a supposed to be empty room. It was only now that they notice the crowd they drew, to which they lined up and bowed for their audience.

This was definitely a good idea. Of that they were all sure.

“Hanging out” Complete.

~X~

He flopped into his bed. His shirt removed before even making contact with his sheets. He groaned in relief, as he felt the tension of the day finally begin to fade away. They’d made it back just in time for sundown, though he could currently hear the Cutie Mark Crusaders, weird name but whatever, in AB’s room. He was sure that they’d be dead asleep in under 30 minutes.

He did wonder where Big Mac went off to after they were in the Ponyville Square, but he knew the stallion could take care of himself.

Meanwhile…

“What are ya doing here Sugarcube?” Big Mac said as he sat on the lonely park bench. The only company he’d received were small sniffles and silent sobs.

*sniff, sniff*

*Yawn* His eyes fluttered for a bit, before he stretched out. He felt the area round his eye, the healing was well assured. He look to the side of the room where his desk was, with his <<Trinket>> on the desktop.

He grinned. Today had been more fun than he was expecting. Well without the whole excitement of daily crazy, but he was kind of fine with that. With such a normal day, the event of the coming days was sure to be interesting. He let out one more yawn, before letting his eyes droop.

Time for a nap.

~X~

Applejack slowly walked down the hallway, eyes moving along the sides to the doors of her siblings. Eyes checking in on them, seeing if they’re asleep before she continued on. She came up to the guest room, and quietly looked in catching sight of a sleeping spiky patch of hair.
Naruto had fallen asleep perpendicular to his bed, arms splayed out to his sides in a “T” shape. The blonde’s ears limp, with one against the mattress and the other flopped over the left side of his face.

She took in this scene for a moment before she walked in and sat to his side. Her eyes caught sight of his two tails, which were haphazardly limp and splayed out. She ran a single hand over one of the furry appendages before she trailed off, running her fingers through the blonde’s scalp near the base of one of his ears.

“ZZZZzzzzz…Munya~” The former thief’s sleeping countenance was hilarious, and she had to hold back her laughter as practically purred.

“Yall did real good today. Ah didn’t hear anything about things going wrong, save for what happened with that “Gilda” gal today. Dash’s friend was a real piece of work Ah tells ya.” She started and continued on with telling the sleeping blond of the day’s activities, all the while moving her fingers along the edges of his ears, trailing from one to the other. She nodded when she was finished her story, before blinking some sleep away.

The thought of the trek to her room seemingly far more tenuous now more than ever, but she moved with the intent to get up and leave.

At least that was the idea, before she found her waist besieged upon by one of two furry appendages. The other doing its own thing as it wrapped itself around her own tail. She gave the sleeping blond a suspicious look, but when she received no sort of smug or teasing expression, she found herself at a loss of what to do.

She looked at the door, which was just barely cracked open. The door to her room. The door that lead to the long and arduous trek back to her own room when she was tired enough as it was. She gave the blond beside her a half-lidded stare.

“This is yer fault ya know.”

The only response she gained was a slight tightening sensation around her waist. Not painful or even that strong, but it was a sort of grip that said “You’re not going anywhere”. Her cheeks flushed at the thought of what she would have to do in this situation, though the small smile that played on her lips betrayed her true feelings.

So it was with much (not really) reluctance that she found herself laying on her side next to her fellow, non-family member blond. She made herself comfortable in the crook of the Unique’s side, using his arm as a sort of pillow.

“Just remember this is all *yawn*, yer fault…” She said drowsily before allowing her eyes to close for the world of dreams. Her snores and breathing matching along with the ones of the male beside her.

Neither of them being aware of the smile on both of their faces or the giggling coming from the cracked door.

~X~

“See, Ah told ya. They’re totally head over heels for each other.” Said one awake Apple Bloom, to another awake Sweetie Belle. The unicorn herself nodding after taking a look inside, doing her absolute best to squeal at the, in her opinion, absolutely romantic scene.

They had seen enough and proceeded to creep away back to AB’s room. Ever unaware of a pair of magenta colored eyes watching from the crack of Big Mac’s room door. After the two fillies were back in the room, the eyes disappeared from the door, presumably whomever they belonged to closing the door before the sound of a single mattress creak before silence.

~X~

Author's Note

That took WAY too long to finish! But there it is! Done and over with so we can move on the Boast Buster’s episode. Also if anyone is wondering, it’s been close to 3-4 months since the start of the series, just to be relative with the show’s episode timeline.

Does this mean each episode will take the same amount of time passing for each episode in correlation to their Episode number? Nope. As/if I do more chapters the time will be spread up, but up to Season five is basically 4 years. So yeah, have fun with that.

Over all this chapter had about two less songs than I was hoping to fit into it. Though one of them will be used in an upcoming chapter.

Also that “Epilogue:” idea thing, when I do them they will not need to be in chronological order, but I will keep them consistent to each other. I believe there’s a word for that but it fails me at this point in time.

P.S. There will be two hidden pairings in this story. Though one should be obvious, and the other is will show later on. Probably in the Epilogue both will come to light…Yeah that’s about right.

So yeah like always Read, Rate, Review and stay lovely.

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go read the newest chapter of Heart Invasion. Also does anyone know how to just get a document to out into this thing with all it's formatting intact? It takes a serious toll to go through this thing just to re-do all that stuff.

Renewal: Honestly nothing was really changed save for adding a line or two. No errors I've caught up to this point, so it's largely the same, so you can skip re-reading this one if you want.

Now I know I wanted to get this done and re-hauled before Halloween hit. I actually wanted to do a sort of Halloween bit for this story but I never could get to the idea because Tales of Zestirial, school, work and Actual Halloween got in the way. So expect me to kind of fill that role once I finish the flashback chapter.

Adios.

~NRK Out~