WAY Out of place

Chapters

Chapter 16: Workin' hard or hardly workin' ?
Chapter 17: A talk with myself
Chapter 18: Seeing things
Chapter 19: Incoming!
Chapter 20: Settling in
Chapter 21: Switching positions
Chapter 22: Back to basics
Chapter 23: "We're green."
Chapter 24: Standing tall
Chapter 25: ...(Kian)
Chapter 26: "He cleans up well."
Chapter 27: Suitting up
Chapter 28: Jackass meets Equestria
Chapter 29: New reading material
Chapter 30: Like a family
Chapter 31: Animal house(Kian)
Chapter 32: More than just a dream
Chapter 33: A long-ass vacation
Chapter 34: Pinkie Promise(Kian)
Chapter 35: A special recipe[Dark]
Chapter 36: A fading line
Chapter 37: Down the drain
Chapter 38: Thinking things over
Chapter 39: Can a pony change it's coat?
Chapter 40: Fantasizing
Chapter 41: Game on
Chapter 42: Lovable yandere(Kian)
Chapter 43: They never do
Chapter 44: Introductions
Chapter 45: Revertere
Chapter 46: Inner battles
Starting things out
Chapter 2: "One usually shits one self."
Chapter 3: 20% more Scottish
Chapter 4: Meeting the other Manes(Now with Pinkie subtitles.)
Chapter 5: Woona's part time job
Chapter 6: Down on the farm
Chapter 8: A pleasant surprise
Chapter 9: One fuck up after another.
Chapter 10: Party's downstairs/Drink away the pain
Chapter 11: Talking it out
Chapter 12: Retribution
Chapter 13: Mail time
Chapter 14: "Aww nuts."
Chapter 15: Damn good night (Kian)
Chapter 7: "A city in the clouds...No not like Star Wars dumbass!"

Chapter 16: Workin' hard or hardly workin' ?

I stood just out side Sweet Apple Acres, looking on at the farm. Exactly the same as it was yesterday, nothing was at all different. I looked up at the sign thinking back to yesterday. Seeing Kian have something close to a smile was a first. For the entire week I'd known him he'd never smiled. He always had that same calm and bored expression, never any falter in it. He looked like he'd just about given up on things and just went with everything that happened. And to think this morning he had the biggest smile I'd ever seen on anyone. All of us need this, Kian needs to have some fun and be happy, Twilight needs to be with her friends and family, and I...I...need to just forget about things. I'm not ruining anyone else's time with my problems. They're mine to face and I'll face them alone. I'm here now and none of it matters anymore, I'm free from all that shit.

I pushed that back and tried to remember more of the happy times from yesterday, the smile me and Twilight shared, the kiss, the apple...man that was a good apple. I should probably see if I could get some today. I sighed and wore a lighthearted smile, thinking about last night fondly too. I should send a thank you letter to Celestia for the wine, she didn't have to send it, but she did. I made the mental notes and walked up the pathway to the house, the soft soil under my hooves. I looked on at all the apple trees, hundreds of them, as far as the eye could see. Quite a few had baskets under some already, no doubt Applejack and her family were already at work. I could see a large red Earth pony carrying a few baskets back toward the barn. He looked toward my direction, unblinkingly, the wheat in the corner of his mouth shifting to the side. His orange-brown mane hung down at the side of his neck, likely damp with sweat. He nodded at me and continued on carrying the baskets toward the barn.

I looked in the direction he came from to see Applejack walk from behind a few trees. She wiped a hoof a long her forehead and spotted me, waving it. I smiled and left the path, walking toward her.

"Glad to see you took me up on that offer." She smiled, looking back toward the apple trees. "We started not too long ago so pick a tree and get started."

"Alright, which trees have you--wait...yesterday when I tried bucking a tree I got my world rocked." I said thinking back a little further. "Mind giving some advice so I don't end up with an annoying ass jitter and an apple stuck on my horn again?"

"If that's what happened then maybe you were off the center," She suggested. "that can happen sometimes, if'n you do that."

"Okay, I guess." I said walking uncertainly over to a tree full of apples. I reared to it and adjusted where I's assumed I'd hit to the center. "Like this?" I asked looking over my shoulder at the trunk of it.

"Yep." She said nodding.

I took a deep breath and focused, leaning forward and standing on my front legs. I kicked my legs out bucking the tree and shaking it. A few apples fell and landed in the baskets.

"Like that, but a little harder. I could tell you was holdin' back." She said continuing the advice.

I steadied myself and aimed again, looking over my shoulder. I leaned onto my forelegs and bucked again, this time with all effort. The tree shook more violently and more apples dropped, filling the basket.

"There ya go!" She said hurrying to a tree. "Just like that. Keep it up, we'll make an apple bucker outta you yet!" She said kicking at the tree and knocking apples from it into the baskets below.

I made my way over to another tree and gave it a strong buck at the base, the tree shaking and dropping it's payload. A smirk came to my face as I saw the basket's fill up with the sweet red, green, and yellow, jackpot. I moved from tree to tree like clockwork; turn around, buck, watch in satisfaction. I moved faster, pushing myself. I made a first impression that was honestly the ponciest ever, it seemed about right to buff that out and prove my worth. I set that to be my new goal: buck until I couldn't buck anymore.

I hurried between them, making them drop all they had. Something made me turn to Applejack with a satisfied grin, though it was wiped off when I saw her progress. She was at least three trees ahead of me, she'd run to it, buck, and run off, with all it's apples dropping. She made it look easy and I was putting all I had into my kicks, still not even knocking down as many apple as her. I snapped out of my distraction and furrowed my brow, focusing. It was a sort of pride thing I had, no matter what it was, something old, new, I could've just found out about it and I's already try my hardest to beat someone at it.

I heightened my pace and hurried to each tree, delivering swift bucks and running off to the next. We worked our way through the field, stripping each tree of what it had, never stopping. I kicked with all the strength I could muster and felt the rush of it. There's just some zen like appeal to it, kicking a tree as hard as possible and having all it's contents drop. We each must of bucked twenty trees by now, hell I'd lost count after I saw how fast she was. I didn't care, I was gonna go as far as she could, buck as hard as she could, move as fast as she could.

I could feel the sweat run down my forehead, it's salty taste in the corner of my mouth. I couldn't even look to see how far Applejack was, I just couldn't look. I ran between the trees, making what short work of them I could. I ran to a tree and bucked, but something was weird about it this time. It felt there was...another kick?

I turned around to it and peak around it to see a confused Applejack scratching the back of her head with a hoof. "Oh, that's why." she said noticing me. "I coulda swore somepony was bucking the same tree." She looked back at our progress and grinned at it. I followed her line of sight to see that most of the trees were cleared of apples and had baskets filled with them. "Looks like we've got this here field wrapped up, time ta bring 'em in." she said picking up up a basket and moving it to her back.

I nodded and grabbed the edge of the basket with my teeth, picking it up. Holy shit was it heavy though, I felt like my jaw would break from it. I hastily moved it to my back and followed Applejack through the field of trees back to the path where I came from.

"Here's good, Big Mac'll pick 'em up from here and we can just bring more." She said trotting back. I shrugged, dropping the basket beside hers and following back. And after a horrendously boring time with that we carried back the last of of the baskets to see the big red guy carrying the last of them back. "We're already here so let's bring these to the barn ourselves."

I sighed and followed back to the barn with her, very much wishing the ass load of apples on my back was lighter. The dirt under my hooves was packed flat from all the walking and I could swear I had a whole fucking centimeter of dirt caked to the bottom of my hooves.

"Ya did good fer yer first day." Applejack said looking over her shoulder at me. "We got the whole east field done in no time. How would you like to make this a permanent job?" She offered. "We can always use another set'a hooves 'round here."

"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded, looking at me out of the corner of his.

"I'll uh...keep an open book." I panted.

"You okay?" Applejack asked raising a brow.

"Running and gunning...is my usual deal...Carrying shit, whole nother ball game."

"Okay." Applejack said slowly.

Big Mac pushed the door to the barn open and we set down the rest of them by the enormous wall of stacked baskets.

"Ya'know, I don't think it's very safe to have all the baskets stacked like that." I said looking at it nervously.

"Never been a problem before." Applejack said confidently.

"It just doesn't look all that safe to me." I shrugged, walking up to the baskets. I placed a hoof on it and looked along it for someway it actually managed to stand. A single apple dropped down and fell to the ground. I could see the baskets start to lean in my direction with rising speed. My brow furrowed at that "Oh fuck my ass."

Chapter 17: A talk with myself

The wave of apples collapsed, raining fruit over me. I was buried in them, my one hoof outstretched and barely breaching the apples. I couldn't move or see and could barely breath. The last spec of light the breached the apples faded and I felt numb, everything becoming soft and fuzzy. I felt tired and drifted off weakly.

My eyes eased open slowly, letting in the dim light that was present. I felt cold, but not a freezing my balls off ice water cold or a blood drained dying cold, I felt normal. The cold that you get from a empty house or basement. I could feel the smooth floor beneath me, cement, it's cool and slightly damp touch probably the reason. But something surprising came to my mind, I could feel everything from where my hooves would be, they didn't feel like solid masses, they felt fluid and loose. I raised them up to my face to see they were no longer hooves, they were hands.

I had my hands back. I had my hands back! I looked along myself, looking excitably at every detail. Arms, legs, clothes. I was human again. I even still had the tattoo along my left forearm. But why?

My thoughts were cut short as I heard heavy foot steps echo around me, coming from a single direction, in front of me. They stopped not even a foot away from me and I could hear someone fiddle around with something. Metal and glass tinkling together softly, followed by a click and a brighter light. A single uncovered light-bulb hung down, slowly swinging back and forth. A tall man stood before me, the light casting a shadow over him and making it impossible to actually see him. He stared at me for a moment before he backed up under the light and I could see just what he looked like. Somewhat grizzled and young with a dark lengthened mohawk that was slicked back and a growing in beard. His eyes were a cold slate and had no emotion or remorse what-so-ever. His expression was blank and harsh and there was a very small scar on the end of his left eyebrow that went diagonal to the right.

I then noticed what he was wearing; a large bark leather jacket adorned with dozens of patches of symbols and pictures that was worn openly, a t-shirt underneath that had the image of a deer skull that was cracked and chipped along the fusing of the plates, worn jeans that were faded and had small tearing along the shins and knees, and olive drab boots that had bottoms at-least an inch thick and were dusty and scuffed.

He stared coldly at me for some reason, breathing quietly and standing almost perfectly still. "What's up?"

I couldn't move, all I felt was the tremble that ran through me from his presence. I felt colder, the icy cold, all the blood rushed away from my face.

"Too scared to see yourself?" he said standing over me. "Don't be such a pussy."

I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't say a word, my mouth simply slack.

He lifted a foot and it slammed down onto my stomach, his heavy boot pressing against my gut. His brow furrowed and a toothy smile crept upon his face "You've been dreaming for too long." He snarled. "It's time to wake up." He leaned down and one of his hands grabbed at the collar of my shirt, lifting me up. The other hand reached around his back and retrieved an shiny red apple. "Have an apple." He laughed, shoving it into my mouth. "C'mon, eat the apple."

I coughed and gasped as the flesh of it embedded into my teeth and some of it juices dripped down my throat. His hands pressed hard against it, forcing it further into my mouth. It hurt as my jaw expanded and I could feel a warm tear run down my cheek. I choked on the bite and gagged, my world fading again. Everything became fuzzy and the last thing I could see was his face, the horrid smile and cold eyes.

My eyes shot open and I gasped, sucking in all the air I could. My face stung and I looked around in a panic. A strong hoof holding me back. "Easy partner, easy." Applejack said.

"What...what happened?" I asked breathing heavily.

"Ya got buried under a bunch a' apples and we dragged ya out." She said plainly.

"Right." I exhaled. "So where the hell am I now?"

"Inside our home, guest room." She said sitting back down on the wooden floor.

I looked around myself to see I was atop a small bed, a soft feather pillow behind my head and a home-sewn quilt around me. "Uh, thanks. Know what time it is?"

"Li'l past noon."

"Alright, uh, thanks for helping me out. I'll get out of your ha-mane, just-just give me sec, alright?" I asked.

"Sure," She said standing. She started for the door and turned back to me. "When yer ready, family's down stairs and would love ta meet ya."

"'Kay." I said lying back down. I closed my eyes and rubbed my hooves along my face trying to push what I saw out of mind. "What the fuck." I felt that same coldness sweep over me. My eyes opened and I slowly turned to my side, the Pegasus standing at the side of bed grinning.

"Have an apple."

Chapter 18: Seeing things

I jumped, moved against the bed to the point where I was against the wall. He just stood there laughing. My heart was pounding, my eyes winded, my breathing ragged. He said something to me. "Oh fuck, FUCK FUCK FUCK!"

His laughter died and he went back to leering at me, his red eyes fixed on mine. He lifted up his front hooves and set them on the side of the bed, pulling up and standing in front of me. "Listen, and listen. I own you. Got it?"

"Y-y-y-you're n-not real. You can't be, you're just inside...inside my head." I held my hooves to the sides of my heads. "No, no, no, this isn't happening, it can't be talking to me!"

"Trust me boy-o; it is." He patted my cheek with his hoof and laughed again. I could feel it!

"No, no, no, get the fuck out of my head!" I yelled lashing out at him. My swing went through him and he dissipated. I sat there staring at where he used to be, my mind racing, I couldn't breath, I couldn't focus. "C'mon man, get it together. Keep it cool, calm it down. Don't let this get to you; it's nothing, absolutely nothing."

I heard a set of hooves make way toward the room and Applejack hurried in. "What's goin' on?"

I shook it off and rolled out the bed, landing on my hooves. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. Listen AJ, I'll meet you family later, I gotta go home." I said moving past her and into the hallway.

"Why? Something important come up er' somethin'?"

"No, I just...need to get going." I said hurrying down the hall and into the living room. Inside it was the Large red Earth pony: Big Mac, along with an old green mare with gray hair tied back and a small yellow filly with a red mane and bow. I went past them and out the door, making my way down the path. I sped my pace and left the orchard, making a break for Twilight's.

"Why didn't he stay?" Applebloom asked looking up to her sister.

"Don' know," Applejack shrugged. "He seemed awful upset. I ought'a check on him later."

"Eeyup." Big Macintosh nodded.

I slowed my role after I was a ways away from Sweet Apple Acres, trying to re-gather my bearings. "The creepy ass Pegasus started talking. Great, just fucking great." I made my way over to a large tree on the side of the road and sat down, leaning against it. "I'm losing my fucking mind. This is just perfect."

"Yeah I bet it is." He said from his spot on a branch overhead. He lied there comfortably, his head propped up against the trunk, his wings hanging down from beneath him.

"Just ignore like usual. He'll go away eventually." I thought to myself.

"No I won't." He said dropping down beside me. "Not until the day you stop breathing."

"He knows what I'm thinking."

"Why wouldn't I? I'm inside that head of yours anyways, I could just pop out anytime I feel like it."

My eyes widened at that. A chill ran up my spine as I thought about it.

"Yeah, how would like me to show up during that? Always felt like watching it in person. Bet it's real damn good." He sneered.

"Fuck you!"

"I'm you bro." He said sitting down beside me. "So I guess that means fuck you too." He rubbed a hoof hard into my mane and laughed.

"Why can't you just stop bothering me?" I asked.

"Cause I'm bored shitless." He chuckled. "Seeing you fuck up and freak out is so fucking hilarious! Man, who would thought that dumb bitch would screw up so bad? Cunt thought she could keep me in check, but here I am now!" He boasted.

"You're not real." I said shaking my head. "It's just not fucking possible."

"Same could be said about being in a world of ponies dumb-ass. But we're here too!"

I pushed myself up from the tree and continued walking, ignoring him. "He's not really there, he's not really there, he's not really there!"

"Yes, I am." He insisted walking beside me. "Face that fact and deal with it, bitch."

I walked faster, ignoring him and pressing on. He sped up and caught up, continuing to walk beside me. I moved faster in a trot, him following suit and retaking his spot. I kept moving faster, he still caught up and copied speed. I started sprinting and he ran after, his wings flapping. His hooves lifted off the ground and he flew beside me, matching my speed and gloating. I lowered my head, going as fast as I could.

"Hey hold u-oof!"

I tumbled down, hitting the ground hard and winding my self.

"What the heck!" A dazed Rainbow Dash said stumbling back to her hooves. "Slow your role, you could hurt somepony! Geez."

I pushed myself up and took a few clumsy steps around trying to figure out what was going.

"Hello! Anypony home?!" She yelled waving a hoof in my face.

I snapped out of my daze and looked around to see I was just outside town. Rainbow Dash was right in front of me, her eyes narrowed and a disgruntled expression on her face.

"What's got you in such a hurry anyways?" She asked.

"Nothing alright, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."

"You crashed into me with out even noticing! You're telling me that nothings going on. Seriously?" She asked.

"I-" I stopped when I noticed the Pegasus again. He looked along Dash with a smirk and nodded to himself.

"Uh, hello?" She asked waving a hoof in my face again.

"What? Sorry."

"What the heck is wrong with you?" She asked.

I sighed and my brow furrowed. "This is just what I need."

"I'll say." The Pegasus said from behind Dash, his eyes leading to her rump. He moved his head around, examining her like a showpiece.

I pushed him out of my focus. "I'll talk about this later." I said hurrying off into town.

"Hey, don't just leave! Hey!" She called out, but I was already off. "Big jerk." She grumbled.

I pushed through the door to the library, making my way through the main part of it and into the living room. Kian and Spike sat there on the floor looking at something. "Hey guys, wassup." I sighed.

"Nothing." They said together, Kian moving his along the floor to the edge of the couch.

Chapter 19: Incoming!

"Hey where's Twi?" I asked.

"She said she was gonna check on Pinkie." Spike said hopping up to the couch.

"Great, then I guess I'm going there. You two behave, got it?"

"Yeah, yeah." Kian groaned.

I went back through the main library out the door. "Time to say my sorry's to Pinkie. Woop-de-fuckin'-do!"

"Christ, do we really have to?" The Pegasus asked.

"Yes, we do. Now shut the fuck up, you're causing me enough trouble."

"A'ight, m'out." He said trotting off.

"Where the fuck are you going?" I asked.

"Anywhere but there, I mean shit dude, that pink one must be on coke or retarded...or both."

"Geez, somebody took a turn for the bleakest."I breathed a sigh of relief. "At least he's gone." It finally hit me that there was quite a few ponies around me and only I could see or hear him. I trotted off, trying to ignore the stares and make way through town. "First I make an ass of myself, now I'm talking to the Pegasus that only I can see. Good god, if I was still a human people would think I was shrooms or something."

"Seriously man, where the fuck are we?" A familiar voice asked to an unseen other.

I stopped dead in my tracks, eyes widening. "Aw fuck."

"Let me think bro, that huge Unicorn said something about a Ponyville. There's a shit ton a horses, so this must be it."

"She also said that a friend would be here, then her horn starting glowing all gold and shit, them we were over there."

I slowly turned to see an orange Pegasus with a shaggy dark red mane beside a dark brown Mule.

"I think we can officially say, this is the trippiest shit ever. Dude look, there's colorful horses everywhere man. What the fuck did we get into last night?" The Pegasus asked.

"Since were both seein' it; it's the same thing. Shit man, I'm a fuckin' burro. I don't know what the fuck I'd have that would do this." The Mule said as they walked in my direction looking around.

"Whatever it is, it's some strong shit." The Pegasus said looking in my direction.

I sighed and stared down at the ground with irritation. "These guys, perfect."

"Why do I feel like I know that one?"

I walked toward them, head low. "I really hate you guys."

They both looked at each other with raised brows then back to me. "Bro, another one's talkin' to us."

"Wait, wait, wait!" The Pegasus said patting the Mule's shoulder. "Check it!" He pointed a hoof to my left foreleg.

The Mule stared at my leg with a slackened jaw. "Qué carajo?"

"James?" The Pegasus asked with a surprised smile. "Holy shit, he's here too!"

"Will the both of you shut up?!" I snapped. "Jesus mother fuck, first all that shit now you two, oh come the fuck on."

"That's him alright." Mule said nodding.

"So, all three of us are here. Time for shit to get torn up." The Pegasus smiled.

"No, no, no, you two are very much not going to tear any shit up."

"No buzz killing muchacho." The Mule said smugly.

"Okay first of all, why the hell are you here?" I asked.

"That huge Unicorn thing said something about us staying here." The Pegasus answered.

"Oh, they're the two more arrivals. Great."

"I'd say it's about time for a house warming party" The Mule said looking to the Pegasus.

"Oh, I do have to agree. Let the kick ass party begin."

"Nope, no partying." I said sternly.

"Why?"

"Because you two having a party by your standards is not going to be at all good for anyone. You see that big tree back there?" I asked pointing back at the library a ways.

"Yeah."

"Go there and don't break anything. I've got shit to deal with right now." I said continuing my way to Sugar Cube Corner.

"Whatever."

I walked through the door of the bake shop looking for Twi. She stood by the main counter talking to Pinkie Pie.

"So you're just fine now?" Twilight asked.

"Yep." The ecstatic pink mare said trotting out the kitchen with a tray of cupcakes.

"I shouldn't expect anything less from you by now." Twilight sighed.

"Sorry to interupt, Twi, we've got a big problem." I said walking into the conversation.

"Why what's going on?" Twilight asked.

"Hey, you still need to apologize for last night." Pinkie said as her head popped up from behind her.

"I'm sorry, Twi, you remember Jeremy and Justin?"

"Yes, why?" She asked confusedly.

"And you remember the letter you got this morning?"

"Yes. Wait where are you going with this?"

I stared grimly at her.

"Don't tell me." She said as her ears drooped.

"They're here." I said as my head hung low.

"Who's here? More ponies?" Pinkie asked now behind me.

"Ignore the peanut gallery lad." I thought to myself. "They're at the library right now.

"With Kian and Spike?" Twi asked as her eyes widened.

It suddenly hit me how stupid of an idea it was to tell them to go there. "Shit."

Both of us with the same mind set, started for the door.

We walked through the door together nervously. I trotted through the main library into the living room to see Jeremy and Justin on either side of Kian on the floor in front of the couch.

"Nice." Justin said nodding.

"At least everything's in one piece." I sighed.

"Well that's good." Twilight said from beside me.

Jeremy patted Justin the shoulder and cocked his head in my direction. Justin looked and turned back to Jeremy with a smirk.

"Spike." Twilight called out.

"Right here." He said walking back from the kitchen with a small bowl of gems. "Y'know Twi, two weeks of you being gone gave me a lot of free time. You haven't done any studying since you got back so I haven't had anything to really do. Don't take it the wrong way, I love not having to sweep and organize books as much as the next dragon. I mean, Rarity even let me stay with her for the while."

"Well, at least you enjoyed the time off too." She said with a soft smile. "So how was Applejack's?" She asked turning to me.

"It was alright." I said trying not to think about it.

"Yeah, it was awesome." The grey Pegasus I kept seeing said from my opposite side. "This guy got buried in apples and had a panic attack." He said, as though he expected Twi to hear him.

"Fuck you." I thought to him. "So what have you been doing?"

"Just some reading, then I decided to check on Pinkie. That wasn't the greatest apology you know."

"I was in a hurry." I said innocently.

"Next time you see her, give her a real one." She sighed.

Chapter 20: Settling in

"I guess it's about time to show them to their new home." Twilight said looking to Spike. "Do you still have the letter."

"Give me a sec." Spike said hurrying off.

"Alright asswipes, time to see your new home." I said walking over to them.

They both 'whooped' and Kian looked at me with a smile.

"Got it." Spike said coming back.

The scroll became surrounded in a purple aura and levitated from his hand, unfurling. "Oh, the address isn't far too."

Both me and they and the grey Pegasus's brow furrowed. "Fuck." We said in unison.

Twi started walking through the main library and toward the door, I and the fuck nuts following behind.

"See you later." Spike called out from the door as we left.

"Bye."

"Yeah, later giant purple lizard thing." Justin said with a pause after almost every word.

Jeremy started snickering. "Giant purple lizard, holy shit we're fucked over."

"What are they talking about?" Twi asked looking to me.

"Don't worry about it, they're just stupid." I sighed.

Justin tapped my shoulder and I fell back a bit to see what he wanted. "Let me get this straight, that's the girl you've been goin' out with right?"

"Yeah," I said with a raised brow. "why?"

"Just wondering."

I rolled my eyes and went back up beside Twi.

"Yep, that her." Justin nodded with a stupid smirk.

Jeremy bit his lip to stifle his laughter. "Do it."

"He's gonna be real pissed if I do. You know that, right?"

"None of this is real. Just do it man, it'll be funny."

"Alright." He said grinning and moving closer to us. He lifted up his hoof and wound back, swinging and delivering an audible 'smack' across Twilight's rear.

Twi jumped with a loud yelp, her face reddened in a blush. The grey Pegasus leaned against me and phased through. I stopped dead in my tracks, pupils shrinking and my jaw jutting forward. One of my eyes twitched and I twisted my head to the side, multiple clacking pops resulting. I slowly turned to him. "Run."

"Wait what?"

"Run...now." I growled with minor spasms

He gulped and stared wide-eyed. "Shit."

"I'm going to skin you alive." I said twitching with anger.

He slowly started backing away, I following with higher speed. He began making more frequent backward steps to the point where he was jogging backwards. His eyes were widened in panic and I stared intently, making chase. He spun around and made full sprint. "Shit, shit, shit!"

I followed directly behind in my sprint, teeth clenched. We ducked and weaved through the town, narrowly avoiding crashes with ponies. We passed by Sugar Cube Corner where Mr. and Mrs. Cake were carrying a lengthy cake outside. Justin jumped and dived over the cake, Mr. and Mrs. Cake lowering it, landing in a duck-roll and continuing his sprint. I followed behind and as they raised it back up pulled back and hit the ground, going under in a home-run slide.

I flipped to my side and jumped back up to my feet and ran after, Justin gaining a few feet ahead of me. I followed him through to the market place, weaving around stalls and maneuvering around the many ponies there. His wings began flapping in panic as I gained on him. He slowly lifted off the ground, his legs still moving as though he was on the ground. I came close as he hovered over the ground, gradually rising.

I took my chance and moved in, grabbing at his tail with my teeth. He yelped in pain and his wings beat faster, still trying to escape. My hooves dragged along the ground as I weighed him down. He started flying over the stalls and I was dragged through them, first crashing through a fruit stand. I slammed through it, collapsing the sign above it and splattering orange and across my face. The acidic juice squirted into my eyes and they stung fiercely. I shut my eyes tightly and gritted my teeth, eliciting a yelping "FUCK!" from Justin.

I wiped the sticky mess from my face with a hoof and eased open an eye to see an incoming flower stand and plow through a bundle of roses. I came the other side with multiple deep cuts and across my face and front, a dark red rose somehow clenched between my teeth along with Justin's tail. I winced as I felt something warm and sticky trickle from the side of my stinging face. I could barely see through my blurry eyes as I blared through another stand, this time filled with vegetables. A tomato splattered across my face, the scratches and cuts burning painfully.

He flew higher across town, ponies all around watching in shock and amusement. My grip loosened and Justin's tail slipped out, I tumbled back and hitting the ground with a loud thud, skidding through the dirt. I groaned the solitary word I could manage, dust settling around me. "Ow."

The grey Pegasus Phased back out and stood up beside me.

Twilight stood over me with her mouth agape, looking down with surprise.

I raised my head up to look at her. "Here." I said dropping the rose from my mouth.

She calmed and smiled softly, lowering her head down to mine and planting a kiss across my nose. I winced in pain with a weak smile. "Ow."

"Daaaaaamn." Jeremy said beside her. "You got fucked up."

"I hate you two so much right now." I groaned.

Twilight's face softened at that.

"Not you."

Jeremy extended a hoof out to me, smiling. I sighed and reached up with my own, our hooves hooking around each other's. He pulled back and I lifted up, back onto my hooves. Justin circled back and fluttered over us.

"Sweet man, you can fly." Jeremy said grinning.

"What? Holy shit I'm flying."

"Why don't you land so we can get to our house?" Jeremy suggested.

"Because he knows the second he touches the ground his ass is grass." I said glaring at him.

"Yeah I think I'll stay up here for now." He squeaked.

I sat in the bathroom back at the library, Twi standing on a stool and levitating a cotton ball toward my bleeding cheek. "This is gonna smart." She said as it dabbed at the cut.

"Fuck." I yelped wincing at the sting of the antiseptic.

"This wouldn't happen if you didn't freak out over it." She sighed.

"I still don't get how you're okay with it. He slapped your ass."

"Because Jeremy explained that he told him to, it wasn't like he did it for some thrill."

"So it's okay, because he was messing around." I said gritting my teeth as she cleaned out the cuts.

"Well it doesn't sound good when you think about like that, but yes."

"I'm still beating his ass the next chance I get." I groaned.

"It was sweet of you to stand up for me, but you need to calm down sometimes. Being aggressive isn't the right way to do things." She said smiling softly. "I don't want you to be hurt."

"Fine." I sighed.

She took one final dab below my eye and set down the cotton ball. "All done."

"Great, it's only two and my day's been all," I threw a hoof up the air. "this."

"Then I guess there's plenty of time to read." She suggested, the corner of her mouth rising in a cute smile.

"I'm game." I said smiling.

She hopped down from the stool and hugged onto me. "Thanks for the rose." She whispered.

"Anything for you." I said resting my head atop hers.

Chapter 21: Switching positions

I followed her out the bathroom and back through the main library, Twilight levitated a few books from the shelves over to us. We made our way into the living room and I sat down on the couch like I normally would, lounged back with legs forward and off the edge like a human. Twi was curled up beside me, an open book splayed before her. I leaned close with my foreleg around her and read along side her. Kian and Spike sat on the other end talking quietly.

A weird thought came into my head, a question I really had to ask. "Have you two been just sitting around all day?"

"Kind of, yeah." Kian shrugged.

"Why don't you guys go do something. It's only like two o' clock, you've got plenty of time and I doubt Spike has anything better to do." I said looking to him.

The small dragon shrugged and hopped down from the couch. "C'mon." He said leaving.

Kian shrugged and hopped down following.

"Why did you do that?" Twi asked.

"Why do you think?" I asked resting my head atop hers. "I miss all the time we spent as just the two of us now. Back home where there was only the two of us and all we did was spend time together."

"There may be more crazy ponies in your life now, but we'll always have our own time." She said nuzzling my neck.

I sighed happily and we went back to reading the book. Something on Star Swirl the Bearded and one of his lesser known spells. Something else came across my mind, it bothered me quite a bit. I was a Unicorn, but had absolutely no clue on how to use magic.

"Hey Twi."

"Yes?" She asked looking at me from below.

"Could you help me learn magic?" I asked.

"Of coarse." She said smiling softly. "Give me a minute and I'll be back." She said sliding down and trotting off into the main library.

"Okay." I said slowly, watching her go from shelf to shelf looking for a specific book.

Her face grew upset and she came back. "Well I can't find it and Spike's now gone."

"Sorry." I said slinking into the couch.

"I guess I could try from memory." She sighed levitating a random book and walking back into the living room. She stopped in the middle of it and set the book down. "Levitation is basic for any magic, it's the first thing any young unicorn would learn."

"But I'm a grown man--was a grown man," I corrected myself. "But still."

"It's simple, just focus on the book and imagine it floating."

I hopped down from the couch and sat in front of the book. "Alright." I said staring intently at it. I imagined the book, slowly rising and hovering above the floor, yet nothing happened. Twi made a curious hum and I squinted at the book, concentrating on my thought of the book floating. Still nothing happened. I grew frustrated and closed my eyes, thinking only of the book floating.

I could hear a low hum emit from above my head, right into my ears. "Uhh, James." Twilight said nervously.

I eased my eyes open and peaked at the book. It still wasn't moving. I shut my eyes back tight and focused harder.

"James." Twilight said more urgently.

"Hold on, Twi," I said trying to push her out of thought. "I got this."

"James!" Twilight.

"What?" I asked dropping all concentration. A floating Twilight surrounded by a blue glow plummeted from above with a yelp and landed on the couch, bouncing off and landing atop me, knocking me over with a winded "oomph."

"Wrong book." A dazed Twilight said above me, her eyes spinning in opposite directions.

"My aim was off." I wheezed.

"Just one more time." Twilight pushed.

It had already grown late into the day. Kian and Spike were back from...whatever they went and did, I didn't ask. The three of them sat on the couch to help me with some magic strength exercises. I closed my eyes and focused. "Here I go."

A blue glow surrounded them as well as the couch. The couch rose only a few inches into the air and began to shift places. The three of them began to move separate.

Kian floated past with his hooves behind his head. "Sweet."

"Very." Twi agreed trotting through the air past him.

Spike laughed and swam through the air past me. "This is so cool."

My brow furrowed as I strained to suspend them. I began to feel the pressure move through my sinuses and my mind began to fog. I tried my hardest to keep from dropping them and moved the couch back to it's spot, setting them back down on it.

"Aww." Spike groaned as he touched down from his backstroke.

"Spike." Twilight said in a motherly chastising tone. "No need to hurt yourself James."

"Thanks." I said as the glow around them faded.

"I don't need you." The grey Pegasus gloated as he flapped around the room.

"Fuck off." I thought to him.

"I'd say it's about time to call it a night." Twilight said as she moved down from the couch.

"Alright." Spike and Kian said in unison as they hopped down from the couch.

I twisted my neck and followed Twi up the stairs into her bed room. She climbed up into the bed lied there waiting. I took a minute to stretch. I'd spent the last hour or so sitting in the same spot trying to practice with magic, doesn't also help that I was huge. That's how you get leg problems. I stretched out like a dog, sliding down low to the ground to limber up. I twisted my neck in the other direction, letting out every kink I had. Once I finished I hopped up into bed beside Twi.

She smiled happily and we worked our way under the covers comfortably. "We feeling like doing anything tonight?" She asked.

"Third base?" I suggested.

She nodded her head from side to side thinking it over. "Sounds good."

Chapter 22: Back to basics

We moved close to each, eyes closing. Our muzzles pressing together and our lips work their usual magic. They opened further for our tongues to slip out and play. They licked along each other and Twi moaned softly. We pressed on, kissing harder, our mouths opened as much as possible. Quick breaths were a staple after this long. Her hooves instinctively moved up and held onto my shoulders. My own hooves went there separate ways, one making it's way up and supporting Twilight's head. The other moved down, starting from her chest and sliding along her lavender coat. I could hear her give off an excited moan and peaked to see here cheeks holding a pink hue to them.

It didn't really bother me that much, the thought of sex as a pony. I mean Twi was comfortable with it as a human, why couldn't I be the same for her as a pony? I split off with a trail of saliva between our mouths. "Good start, time to move on." I trailed off as my hoof slid lower across her stomach, stopping at the base of her mound, only an inch from her small pink clit. She took a deep breath and bit her lip in anticipation, holding it, her chest puffing out. I moved it lower, brushing past her nub and eliciting a soft moan from her. My hoof took it's spot between her haunches, right along her slit. I moved in slow steady strokes, massaging her lips. Her breathing became ragged and I used my other hoof to pull her in for a kiss.

I could feel her mound moisten and my hoof raised it's pace, rubbing from top to bottom along her pink slit. She moaned softly into my mouth and held tight. I could feel myself start up, a good couple inches start from the sheathe. She could feel it herself as it slid out and poked at her stomach, the flat head sliding up along her coat. One of her own hooves left it's spot at my shoulders and moved down between us, resting about mid shaft along it. I groaned as I felt the blood rush to it. Her hoof stroked gingerly along it, my own hoof rubbing briskly along her slit. I began to take lingering strokes along her nub on my climb and pulled away after the few seconds, leaving her wanting more.

She moved faster with her side, trying to catch up. I groaned as I felt the rest of me make it's way out and into the open. I throbbed for her and she could feel it. I rubbed harder, my hoof pressing firm against her mound. Some of her juices dripped from her flower and soaked the fur of my fetlocks. A droplet of pre leaked out and smeared into her coat. We split, our necks craning and our foreheads pressing together. Our horns crossed and made contact, sending an excited shudder running down my spine. I looked right directly into her eyes as they eased open to reveal the most beautiful shade of purple in existence. We stared at each other as our hooves moved unconsciously. A thin layer of sweat glistened off our fur and I could smell the sweat musk that we began to emit.

Our noses were pressed together, a smile shared. Her eyes were half lidded and told me what they needed to. I love you. I looked down at myself to see at least a foot and a half of dark brown with grey splotching near the base. The first thought that came to mind was, "Great pissing blimey that huge!" followed by, "Holy shit that feels good." Her hoof rubbed along my shaft with good speed. My hoof caressed her lips with matching speed. I could feel the pressure inside build and without a doubt she could too.

"Ready?" I asked.

She nodded with a loving smile and our hooves worked over time. I ground my hoof against her mound harder than ever. She stroked along my length swiftly, moaning softly from my handiwork. He head moved down low to level with my chest, her lips parting and wrapping around the head of my member. Her tongue licked along the tip, lapping up the pre and gently working her teeth into the equation. I groaned in ecstasy as I felt her tongue move around it. I moved my hoof higher and stroked along her clit entirely. She moaned around my length which set me off and made me rub harder, causing her to moan.

I went first, gritting my teeth and shutting my eyes tight as a thick shot of sticky seed expelled from it and down her throat. Twilight gagged and swallowed, sliding off cleanly with a slick pop. "Looks like I beat you." She gloated cutely as she licked her lips.

"Oh it's on." I said as my hoof ground into her clit. Her mouth hung open in a moan as worked her soft mound. She moaned out loudly as I felt her take her turn. A sticky, almost white fluid dripped from her crotch and stuck to my hoof. She slumped down onto the pillow, her eyes lulled.

"Could you guys keep it down. I'm trying to sleep." Spike yelled from his basket.

We looked back at each other. "Well that kinda killed the mood." I sighed.

"Huh?" Twi asked as her mind drifted from the climax.

"Right." I said to myself as I lied my head down on the pillow, my face buried in her ruffled mane. "Night." I whispered softly.

Princess Luna lied atop her own bead thinking of the large grey stallion that had been inside this very chamber with her this morning. Her mane was back to it's flowing nightly appearance. Her thoughts drifted back to the dream of his that she'd infiltrated last night and it's happenings. The scene was a horrifying one indeed, so that she shuddered in remembrance of the scream, one of the last things she heard before ending it. Her horn took on a blue glow and she closed her eyes, going in to see what else his mind could plague him with.

My eyes shot open as I shook wildly from my spot. I look around to see the interior of a souped up truck of sorts. I had a window seat and around me was at least half a dozen men wearing thick grey/blue fatigue uniforms along with knee and elbow pads, tactical vests, combat gloves, and gas masks. I too wore the same outfit. Three yellow canisters were strapped to my chest, "Fuze M-201A1 IW 7-070 M-84 Flashbang Tactical Diversion Device" printed on each one. hanging from a sling around my neck was an MP5 with a suppressor and collapsible stock. Holstered on my right leg was a silenced USP.45. My gas mask hung down from my left leg. On my left shoulder was a sheathed Boker Plus Armed Forces. On my right arm, like all the other men, was a patch of a winged dagger that read along the top, "United Kingdom Special Forces" and below it read, "Special Air Services".

One of the men with a patch on his left arm of three layered downward arrows cleared his throat. "So, how you holdin' up rook." He asked looking to me, his voice holding a cockney accent. "First day and we already have a mission, eh. Best make that time spent in the CQB practice well worth it."

Chapter 23: "We're green."

"What's the briefing sir?" One of the men asked. "I think rookie here might of slept through it." The other men got a laugh, yet the sergeant remained unphased.

The laughter died and everyone grew quiet. "An apartment complex has been taken over by radicals and we have count of at least seven hostages, all women." A heavy layer of seriousness came about everyone as they looked between each other.

"Any demands sir?" a man asked.

"Yeah, a right arse kicking. We have estimate of around a dozen plus tangos, heavily armed and willing to kill. We've singled out a leader. He's held up with the hostages on the top floor with the bulk of the guards. That's our primary objective, our secondary is remove the weapons cache they have stored in the basement."

"So what's the plan?" Another asked

"Griffen and Wallcroft, you two are in charge of the power, Barton and Doyle, you two are to take to the lower levels and search for the cache. When Griffen and Wallcroft are finished with their end then they're to join you."

"What'll the rook be up to, fetching coffee?"

"No. He'll be with me while we take on the primary objective. Once you've finished your piece of it the four of you will regroup with me and rook. Understand?" He finished

A chorus of "Yes sir." was followed.

"When we're all wrapped up drinks are on me." I could tell he had a sly smile on past his mask. A small rooting cheer came around everyone. He looked back to. "Nervous yet?"

I shook my head as I wrapped my head around things.

"Good." He said nodding. "Cause we're here."

As if on the cue the vehicle we were in lurched to a stop. The doors swung open and they one by one clambered out. I followed out last, taking the gas mask from my belt and holding onto the head straps, pulling them back and sliding it over my face. I made a few adjustments to the point where it fit tight and followed. We stood outside the enormous building, the men named off as Barton and Doyle stood on either side of the entrance. The other two, Griffen and Wallcroft, began making their way around the building. The sergeant stood behind Barton waiting, the three of them armed at the ready. My hand took it's place at the handle and leveled my weapon. I hurried over to them and stacked up behind Doyle.

"Ready?" He asked.

The sergeant held his free hand to his ear. The light from some of the windows died. "We're green for go." He nodded.

Barton's hand took hold of the door handle and slowly turned it, easing it open. We quietly made our way in a crouch with Barton on point. We made way to the stairwell, him and Doyle took left to go down. The sergeant removed his free hand from under his guns barrel. He extended his index and middle, pointing to the upper stairwell. I nodded in understanding and we crept up it. A static buzzed in my ear and I heard someone talk. "Three tangos down, proceeding."

"Copy that." The sergeant replied holding his hand to his earpiece.

At the top there was an intersection that branched off into two hallways. He pressed against the wall and peaked around the corner, looking back and forth between both directions. He slinked back and extended four fingers, switching to two and cocking his head to the right then to the left. He extended his thumb to point at himself and cocked to the right, he then switched to his index finger and pointed at me, cocking to the left.

I nodded and took to the other wall. He held up his arm and extended three fingers, retracting one after another before pumping his fist.

Princess Luna awoke to find herself bound and knelt on the floor alongside six others. Each resembling Ponies she had come to call friends, having taken on the strange form of humans and were held together with her. The six Ponies that had become known as heroes of Equestria, the Elements of Harmony. Around them were large men with dark clothing and balaclavas, armed with strange wooden and metal weaponry. One resembling the Earth pony Applejack fidgeted with her bindings. One of the guards kicked her in the side, winding her and causing her to slump down to the linoleum flooring.

One resembling the Pagasus Rainbow Dash looked up to him angrily and spat at him, receiving her own kick. Another one resembling The Pegasus Fluttershy sobbed silently to herself and another similar to the Earth pony Pinkie Pie attempted to comfort her. One lay passed out on the floor resembling the unicorn Rarity, beside her was one similar to the Unicorn Twilight Sparkle. A single light above them gave the only illumination to the room fizzled out, the only remaining light from the window and the moon outside.

One of the men wearing a red beret atop his head stood from his seat at a table nearby with his hand upon a silvery metallic device. He pointed at a few of the guards. "You four keep watch outside." He unholstered a rather large pistol. "You." He said pointing at Luna.

We slipped out of cover, weapons level. Two masked guards at the end of the hallway by a window stood facing each other. I steadied my sights and gave two quick bursts, the suppressors snuffing all sound par a few quiet 'phut's. The first burst hit the farthest back guard, dropping him. The second spun around and attempted to raise his Kalashnikov only to be dropped by the second burst. The two slumped down against the wall, a smear of blood following them. Maroon polled around them and glistened in the moonlight.

I turned around to see the sergeant had a similar situation covered. Another buzz of static came into my ear. "Four more tangos down, proceeding to secondary objective with Griffen and Wallcroft."

"Understood, sweeping the second floor at the moment. Four tangos down, the carpets in here are gonna need a lotta shampoo." The sergeant said into his earpiece.

"Copy that, sir."

We moved along to one of the doors, stacking up. "Five pounds says it's this one." The sergeant bet.

"You're on." I quirked as my hand slowly turned the knob. He slipped in first, I followed directly behind.

We stood in the small kitchen of the apartment. "You take bedroom, I'll take bathroom."

I nodded and took to the right toward the open bedroom doorway, he slowly turned the knob to the bathroom door and opened it. I stepped into the bedroom with weapon raised to find no one. I slipped back out into the dark kitchen. "Nothing." I said softly.

"Same." The sergeant said stepping out of the bathroom. "Damn, looks like I owe you five pounds."

"Great, you can buy me dinner at the pub." I chuckled.

We slipped out back into the hallway and took either side of the next. "Alright I feel it, it's this one. If it is then I don't owe you shite."

"Fine, but when you lose I want that steak medium rare." I said as I grasped the door handle. I turned it slowly and eased open the door. The situation inside this small kitchen was different though, splayed out across the kitchen floor were six women that seemed...familiar. One of them with long pink hair sobbed a little more audibly at the site of us. I knelt down beside her. "Are you alright?" I asked.

She only stared at me with wet eyes, shivering in fear.

"Shh, shh, shh, it's alright." I cooed lifting up my mask. "We're here to help you." I unsheathed the knife from my shoulder and she stared at it fearfully. I pressed the edge of the blade to the nylon rope that held her wrists together and worked it in a sawing motion, severing them.

She hugged onto me gratefully. "Thank you."

"Stay put." I said as I moved to another one, the sergeant doing the same. I stopped when I reached a women with long navy hair that had pink and purple highlights through it. Twilight.

Another buzz of static came into my ear. "We have the C4 in place and are on our way up."

"Good," the sergeant said into his earpiece. "We have the hostages secure. Wait, I only count six. Where's the other-" He was cut off as one of the men came out from the bedroom with a woman held in front of him as a shield, a sinister looking Desert Eagle held to her temple.

"Drop your weapons now or her brains repaint the walls." He barked.

The woman had long azure colored hair and seemed to be focusing on me. She didn't seem scared at all. The sergeant already had his weapon level and aimed at him. "Drop yours."

"I said drop the guns or she's dead!" He yelled.

I did as he said and slowly set my gun down on floor, sliding it away. My other hand with the knife in it moved down between Twilight's thighs, her eyes darting nervously up to mine. I set it down between her legs and moved away, standing up.

"Useless wanker!" The sergeant yelled at me.

"Just do it." I said hands raised. "It's on her head."

They both looked at me then back to each other. The sergeant slowly lowered his weapon and set it on the ground, sliding away. He stood back up and held his hand up in the air.

"And the pistols." The leader barked.

I rested one of my hands on the handle of it and unholstered it, setting it down and kicking it away. The sergeant did the same.

I slowly moved out of the way to the left. He followed my movement and stepped his way around us, facing away from the door. I watched as Twi cut herself free and moved to help the rest. The floor creaked below her and the faction leader spun around aiming the pistol at her. I lunged forward and moved his hand up and out of the way, a loud bang sounding off as the round hit the ceiling, dust and drywall falling from it. I pushed the blue haired woman away from him toward the sergeant and swung, landing a blow to his face and knocking both the beret off his head and the pistol out of his hand.

He kicked upward with his leg and I caught it, holding onto it. He hobbled in place on the remaining leg and squirmed trying to get free. I kicked up and landed a heavy blow to his groin, knocking him over. I dived down and pinned him, winding back and swinging, placing blow after blow to his head. He reached up and caught my hand as I swung, using his other hand to grab the collar of my fatigues and pulled me in for a headbutt. I fell back dazed and he flipped me over, pinning me. He wound back and swung, planting his own blows.

The sergeant tackled him off and pinned him, landing next to the pistol. He lashed out at him while the leader of the radicals reached for the pistol. He grabbed it and brought it between him and the sergeant. His finger pulled the trigger and a fifty caliber bullet tore through his abdomen. Blood dripped down and a muffled gargle came from his mask. He pushed him off and aimed for me. I grabbed the deagle and turned it in his direction. He fought back and tried with all his strength to tilt it in my direction. I let go with one of my hands and elbowed him in the face, his strength faltered and I tilted it all the way toward him and pulled the trigger. The round tore a fist sized hole through his chest. Blood dipped down from his mouth and he fell back limply.

I dropped the heavy pistol panting. I rubbed my hands along my face. "Everyone alright?" I asked. I only received a few nods in reply.

The other four came through the doorway, stopping dead in their tracks at our sight. Griffen knelt down to the sergeant and set his head down on his chest. He raised back up and shook his head. I pushed up from the ground and knelt over the sergeant, reaching down the collar of his fatigues and grabbing his dog tags. I yanked them from his neck handed them to Griffen, then I placed my hand on the intake of his gas mask, pushing it up. I looked down at the man who sacrificed himself for me, his eyes cold and dead, blood pouring from his mouth. My hand moved down from his mask and down along his face, closing his eyes. I stood up from him and held my hand out to Griffen who handed the dog tags back.

I looked down to them and read the name printed. G. Sanderson. I stepped over to the woman with blue hair and knelt down to her. I stuffed the dog tags into a side pouch and reached down the neck of my own fatigues, grabbing hold of my own dog tags and ripping them from my neck. I grabbed her hand with my other one and held it out, setting them down in her palm and closing it. I stood back up from her and looked back around the room everyone, seemed to be staring at me.

"We're leaving." I said walking past everyone and out into the hallway.

Chapter 24: Standing tall

I stood outside the apartment complex by the jeep, just waiting for when I'd wake up. "This is officially a pretty shitty dream."

The rest of the men came out without their masks on, each one with blank expressions. They came to the jeep, heads low. One of them pat my shoulder and they piled into the jeep. I simply ignored them and closed my eyes waiting. I just wanted to wake up and forget this happened. A trio of ambulances were parked nearby, one had the body of sergeant Sanderson, the others had the girls, some sitting out side a few inside. The back door of one was open and I could see two of them sitting on the edge wrapped in blankets. One with long rainbow colored hair, the other with long blonde hair tied in a ponytail near the end.

I looked in their direction to see them wave. I figured I might as well see how they were doing since I just scarred the whole of them for the rest of their lives. So I made my way toward them, arms crossed.

"Everyone doing alright?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah...Flutters might need some work though. That was uh...that was rough." The rainbow haired one said looking over her shoulder. The girl with the long pink hair sat atop the gurney talking to a paramedic.

"Flutters?" It finally hit me how they were familiar and I felt stupid for not realizing it earlier. But something began to bother me. If it was Twilight and her friends, who was the woman with blue hair?

Princess Luna sat inside the other ambulance, pondering the strange pendant he had given her. What was it's purpose? If they were a military force like the guards then why would they need this? And most of all, why was his name printed upon it? She held the metal necklace in the palm of her recently acquired hand reading the information listed.

Mink
James D.
169401231
O-
RC

She presumed it to be a form of identification. But why he would give it to her eluded her. Did he know, or was it simply a means for her to remember him? It was strange the way he acted. She stared at the metal pendant as though it would give her all the answers. But it didn't, it couldn't. She had only met him that morning and displayed a rather lack luster side of his personality, yet before her he displayed a sense of honor and valor. Before her very eyes not long ago she had witnessed the spilling of blood not once but twice and that had not come close to phasing her, yet this seemed to leave an impact she could yet to register. She decided she may need time and that it had been enough. She ended the dream, everything fading to a white.

My eyes eased open slowly, taking in the sun's morning rays as they poured through the window. I looked around as my eyes adjusted, making sure it was the real thing. I knew it certainly was when I turned my head to see Twilight in all her pony cuteness, nuzzling my neck, a small dribble of saliva coming from her mouth. I smiled slightly, happy to be back. I somewhat hoped she wouldn't be in the dream, but unfortunately she was. I never did get to talk to her before I woke. Maybe I guess I don't have to get something done, just wait until I do eventually wake up. I pushed all remembrance of it out of my mind and brought my focus back to the real world. Well...sort of.

I figured I might as well try to plan out what I was going to do today. Rarity's maybe? I still wasn't too keen on standing still for hours on end, but I should give Kian just one more day until I start dragging him along to things. Wouldn't want to leave him out of all the animal fun at Fluttershy's. With that figured out I went back to enjoying my morning. I raised one of my hooves and rested it on her side, gently rubbing along it. I was right next to her, I had been right next to her the entire time. That's all I ever wanted from her, to be with her. My head eased down and I set it above hers. If I could stay like this for the rest of my life, I would. I would stay perfectly still if it meant I would always be on this position. With her, together, happy.

Twi stirred slightly and mumbled a few inaudible things before returning to her quiet, motionless state. Her mane was a bit ruffled and hung down her face, covering some of an eye. I began to remember the events of last night and realized my hoof was still a bit sticky. I lifted my head from above hers and looked down between us to see the mess I got her to make, wet stickyness covering quite a bit of her hindquarters. She stirred more from my movement and her eyes slowly opened, her beautiful purple gleaming from the light. A soft smile made it's way across her face. "Morning." She whispered happily, burying her face into my chest.

"Morning." I sighed in reply.

"About time to get up?" She asked.

"Sure, we should probably take a shower quick though."

"How come?" she asked.

"Poor choice of words, Twilight." I said looking down between us.

She began to blush at the sight of the small puddle between her legs.

"Don't worry, I'll cover our retreat." I said sympathetically.

She smiled softly and we leaned in for a quick kiss before rolling out of bed. I took a moment to stretch quickly, pleasuring myself with some of the few moments I'll be able to move around. I twisted my neck while Twi waited patiently at the top of the stairs. I noticed Spike's basket was empty, so he'd be downstairs doing who-knows-what. I followed her down the steps closely, her stopping to peek around the corner at the bottom. Spike was in the kitchen with a small bowl of gems, chewing thoughtfully on a blue gem, facing in the opposite direction.

"Alright let's move." She whispered as she began to sneak through the main library toward the bathroom. The space felt like miles as we walked through it slowly, caution set high. She stopped dead as a floor board creaked under her and our attention snapped to Spike who hadn't noticed it. We breathed a sigh of relief and kept moving. When we finally did make it to the bathroom I eased the door openly quietly and moved out of the way for Twilight.

Suddenly, behind her another door swung open as Kian walked out. His mane in a serious bed head. He looked over to us and yawned. "Morning. How you guys d- what the fuck?!"

Chapter 25: ...(Kian)

I shoved Twilight through the doorway and dashed in slamming the door behind us. Kian stood there with eyes widened and a mouth slightly slack. He could of sworn he saw past Twilight tail a semi-white splattering down her leg. Of what, he could only imagine. He slowly walked toward the kitchen, not entirely hungry anymore.

"Wassup?" Spike asked as Kian walked in.

"I just, uh... give me a second." He said walking past toward the refrigerator. He worked his hoof around the handle and opened it, pulling out the large jug with the picture of an orange on it. He picked it up via his mouth by the handle and set it down on the floor, closing the door. He sat down and gripped the lid with his teeth and twisted until it came off. Holding it from both sides with his hooves he lifted it up, bringing the spout to his mouth and leaned back. The acidic juice poured down his throat, burning at his tongue. He chugged down half of it before stopping and letting out a disgusted groan. He set the jug down, replacing the lid and moving it to the counter.

"You okay?" Spike asked worriedly.

Kian set his head down on the counter beside the orange juice. "I really don't want to know what I just saw coming out of Twilight's...Gyeeaghgh." He shuddered, growning disgustedly.

"Oh, that." Spike said sighed uninterestedly while gnawing on the gem he was holding. "I guess I'm happy for Twilight now that she has a special somepony or whatever it's called, but why do they have to be so loud at night? I could barely sleep."

"Wait, they were--while you were--eeugh!"

"I don't really care, as long as I can sleep through it and not hear any of it, I really don't care." He sighed.

"You're fine with it?" Kian asked uncomfortably.

"Not really, I just try to ignore it. Geez can Twilight be loud."

"You do know what they were up to, right?" Kian asked curiously.

"Yeah, I know." Spike exhaled irritatedly. "Why does everyone think because I'm small that I don't know things. I know stuff. I hear Rarity talking about things. But I kinda wish I didn't." He said looking depressedly at his breakfast of gems.

"I kinda know how you feel." Kian said staring at the table. "I swear my brother must think I don't have a clue and I did fine a few nights ago. I mean she wasn't complaining so whatever."

Spike only shrugged and continued chewing his gem thoughtfully. "So what are you gonna do today?"

"I don't know." Kian sighed. "Maybe see what Pinkie's up to. Maybe do some exploring of this place. I dunno, you?"

"Probably stay here. I think Twilight might get some studying done today so she'll probably need me."

"There really isn't much for us, is there?" Kian asked thoughtfully.

"Nope."

"What d'you think everyone else is up to?" Kian asked out of boredom.

The light poured through the living room window mercilessly as it blinded Jeremy who lied upside down on the couch of his complimentary apartment he shared with Justin.

"The fuck happened?" He asked himself looking around.

Across the room Justin was fast asleep, snoring loudly into the enormous whole in the wall they made last night jackass style. They say don't do this at home but who really gives a fuck? He slid down off the couch and stumbled over to Justin, kicking him with a hoof.

"Hey bro, let's go mess around."

Justin was startled awake from the kick and flopped around on the floor. "Huh? What? Ponies!"

"Chill man, let's go screw around some more."

"Don't know." Spike shrugged.

"Welp, I don't have anything else. Later." He said trotting out the kitchen into the main library and out the door.

"Uh, later I guess." Spike said to the empty room. "Ponies." He sighed

Kian walked down the street looking around Ponyville. He used what little of it he retained from the past few days to his advantage. At least he was confidant he could find his way back to the library. That was good, right? He walked past a few of the nearby shops, seeing just what things he could find in case of future need. Then again, what would he really need? Something to toughen him up for sure. Geez can Pinkie take it out of you.

Nothing really of interest. He thought passing them by. Who would sell quills and sofas in the same shop? Wouldn't quills belong with a book shop and sofas with a furniture shop? "Wait, why do I even care. These are ponies, things are beyond backwards." He asked himself. "Forget it." He continued on into the marketplace. He noticed a few broken stands and the ponies that ran them selling from tables and baskets in front of them.

One had an earth mare with a cream coat with a two toned dark red and light pink mane along with a few bundles of roses. "How did that happen?" He asked her looking at the wreckage.

"Some Unicorn was hanging from a Pegasus' tail and they flew through it. He even took one of my roses."

"Why is everything around here so freakin' weird?" He groaned walking off. "There's gotta be something wrong with you if you do that kind of stuff."

He walked on through the market looking around. At least they sold normal things out here. It reminded him of the time he went to the farmers market. Fruits, vegetables, and some other things as well. "I guess this part's normal enough." He thought as he finally made it to the other end. He doubled back and left, looking around to see what else there was. He spotted something familiar among the shops. A large gingerbread house with a sign hanging over the door depicting a cupcake. Sugar Cube Corner.

"Might as well." He thought walking over to it. He pushed through the door, a small bell ringing overhead, to find no one there. "Uh...Hello?" He called out into it.

"Just a minute." He heard someone call back from the kitchen area. A Plump blue Earth pony mare with a pink mane walked out carrying a large cake and set it down on the front counter. "Can I help you?"

"Is Pinkie here?" He asked. "Is that Pinkie's mom?" He wondered.

"Sorry, she left a little while ago with some of her friends. If she comes back I'll tell her somepony was looking for her."

"Well uh, thanks I guess." He said leaving. "And I officially have nothing to do. Woohoo, go pony world."

Chapter 26: "He cleans up well."

I sat down on the other side of the door, leaning against it. "Well shit."

Twilight was lying down next to me, her face covered by her hooves. Out of what was visible it was a deep hue of red. "Oh no." She groaned. "No, no, no."

I sighed and patted my hoof on her back.

"That...I...ohhh. This is just...just-just-"

"Awful?" I finished.

She nodded under her hooves.

"Not exactly the roughest morning I've had, but this is definitely up there."

"Just what was worse?"

"The first day I met you."

She lifted her head from under her hooves and looked up to me with an upset expression.

"You remember what it was like when we first met each other and how things went. I'd say that was a rougher day than that."

"Well, maybe." She said thinking, the red leaving her face.

"We hated each other. Yes, that was much worse." I said sliding down onto the tile floor beside her. "I would rather have my brother see something embarrassing of us than share mutual dislike of you. It may not sound that good but, eh."

"I guess so." She sighed.

"It could be worse." I said trying to cheer her up.

"Hmm."

"He could of walked in on us in the middle of it." I said smirking.

Her eyes shrunk at the thought, her face regained it's red blush and she recoiled a bit.

"Now tell me that him seeing what he did would be worse than that."

She only looked up to me.

"Okay you don't have to. But still, there's plenty of ways it could be worse."

"Let's please drop this." She squeaked.

"Agreed." I said standing back up. I laughed as a thought crossed my mind.

"What?" She asked.

"I was just thinking. The way everything's been going, it's like we've always been here."

"Maybe something like this was supposed to happen." She pondered.

"Don't get all philosophical, Twi. I get it that your the smart one and all that but I seriously don't need you getting all 'this was meant to be' with me. I don't need that shit. Now get your hot purple ass in that shower asap." I said sternly pointing at it.

"No need to be a philistine." She sighed playfully.

"Oi!"

After a nice shower and a little more talking I stood next to the tub using my hooves to dry my mane roughly while Twilight was in front of the mirror levitating a brush and running it through her own wet mane. I pulled the towel off of my ruffled mane and shook off the fog through my head. I looked down to it hanging from my foreleg and focused. It became surrounded by a blue aura and began to levitating. "Guess I'm getting the hang of this."

"Looks that way." She smiled softly.

"I'm gonna go take Rarity up that offer. Time to become a living mannequin."

"I think you'd look good in a suit." She said trying to be optimistic.

"And maybe she'll let me keep one." I joked.

She rolled her eyes and set the brush down.

"Well, I guess I should get going." I said pushing open the bathroom door.

"But, we just showered and um, we haven't had breakfast." Twi stated awkwardly.

"I'm good." I said hurrying toward the door. "Hay and oats for breakfast. Fuck that. I almost miss having to kill a morning meal."

"Alright." She sighed toweling off. She stepped out and walked through the library into the kitchen to see Spike sitting with a bowl of gems. "Morning Spike. Where's Kian."

He shrugged without looking at her.

"Alright, so which way is it?" I wondered to myself. "This way?" I went down a road that seemed familiar and somewhat hoped I was right. I walked through town, taking quick glances left and right to make sure I remembered this. A good ten minutes went by and I was outside Sugar Cube Corner. "Alright so from here we went..." I looked around trying to find the path Twilight led us. "There." I walked on in the direction I at least thought was right. I really needed to get a map or something.

I wandered around for another good ten minutes before I did actually find it. I sighed and pushed through the door to see Rarity along with a small white Unicorn filly with a pink and purple mane who was wearing a rather ridiculous looking dress with what looked like peacock feather plumage. The little filly sat on a stool with an embarrassed look on her face, a pencil and notepad clutched between her hooves. Rarity looked her over with a pleased look on her face. I began to have the a sinking feeling about this.

She noticed me over her smaller sister. "Oh, Sweetiebelle, you can run along now if you've gotten enough."

With a dashing puff of dust and the clothing gently floating down, the little filly was gone. A blue aura surrounded the clothes and they levitated back to a mannequin atop the center stand.

"Thank you for considering my offer." Rarity said as she put aside the mannequin. "I was hoping I could expand some of my business by including tuxedos in my line. I could easily work off a mannequin for such, but I would much rather work with something more organic. Besides, I don't think I could find one of your stature. The only other stallion I could imagine filling the same role would be Big Macintosh, but alas, he's much to busy. But you'll do nicely."

"Thanks." I said dryly.

"Would you mind taking your place atop the stage. I'll need you to hold still while I take measurement and gather materials." She said trotting off happily.

I walked over to the stage and lifted my front hooves up onto it, hoisting my self up with a grunt. I stood up atop it and looked around at some of the clothing on display. Among them I spotted a sleek black silken dress, similar to the one Twilight had on in that one one dream where I... My eyes began to shrink as I remembered the painful dream. I pushed it out of thought and tried to keep a straight face.

She came back down with a long measuring tape held in her blue magic. "Since this will be a bit of an experimentation and I haven't quite done this with somepony much like you before it may take a little longer to do."

"Well I really wish you'd hurry up." I sighed.

"You can't rush perfection she said in a sing song voice as the measuring tape wrapped loosely around my neck. It tightened around and she noted every number while humming a soft tune. The grip loosened and it moved down my neck, though she absent mindedly ignored the tape and began staring inventively at my mane. "Did you happen to bathe this morning?" She asked.

"Um, yeah."

"Hmmm." One of her hooves floated up and ran through my somewhat feathered mane. "Curious. Your mane is light and airy along the outside, yet deep down it's quite thick and heavy. And this, did you simply dry it?"

"Mmhmm." I nodded.

"I-DEE-UH!" She sung out as she trotted off. "Follow me."

I sighed and hopped down following her. She lead me to an area that faintly reminded me of barber shop the few times I ever went to one. Who needs to do that when I could just take a knife to it? She sat me down and pulled up a stool, stepping up to it and standing on her hind legs over me. "Luckily your mane is still just damp enough work with." She smiled as a pair of scissors and a comb levitated over to us. She ran the comb through the sides pushing them back and down toward the back of my head. The scissors trimmed down some of the excess, a few stray lochs falling down around me.

The comb then began working its way from the front to the back against the growth of the hairs. She sleeked the most of it back while thinning it out, leaving it thicker in the front. A hair dryer floated over into my face and blasted me with a lengthy burst of hot air. A small plumage of feathering in the front as the outcome.

I looked it over in the large mirror. "Not bad. A little more 'executive' than how I like it, but it's fine."

"I personally think it will suit some of the designs I would like to try quite well. Shall we proceed back to our previous engagement?"

"Sure, it's the whole reason I'm here but a hair cut thrown in too and whoop-de-fuckin'-doo I'm lookin' snazy. Maybe I'll try to see if Twi wants to go out tonight."

Chapter 27: Suitting up

I stood atop the display stage as Rarity circled me with the measuring tape. She finished and stepped down, browsing over the materials she had and settled first on an ashen silk. Her blue magical aura surrounded the fabric and it followed her back to me. It wrapped around my torso to the point where it was tight but was comfortable. She adjusted it and a pair of scissors floated over, removing what she deemed necessary in flawless movement. The fabric then wrapped along my forelegs, spanning from my chest to my fetlocks. She adjusted them as well and the scissors removed the fabric from it's roll. More of the fabric formed around my upper body, from my collar to behind my forelegs. She brought the fabric over to a small table with a sewing machine atop it. "She was definitely expecting this." I thought to myself curiously.

She delicately stitched each piece to each other and trimmed down what was just out of place. She finished it and brought it back over to me. "Would you mind?" she asked as it floated openly to me. I lifted My foreleg up and slipped my hoof in, through the sleeve and set it back down. The start of the blazer wrapped around and I slipped my other hoof into the remaining sleeve. She then began looking along it. She smiled and nodded, pleased with her own work. It slipped back off and She folded it with her magic, setting it aside. She levitated another role of fabric over to us. A charcoal colored silk.

Another hour went by and she'd done the same with at least four other colors. "Seriously. Has she just been trying to think of as many different designs and colors as possible for the last day?" I wondered to myself as she set aside the start of a mustard colored blazer among the others on a small table nearby.

"Well, I believe that should cover that for now." She said trotting past me.

I breathed a sigh of relief. My legs were killing me.

She came back with a small stack of miscellaneous clothing. "Now we can move on to casual wear!"

"Fuck." I thought bitterly as my brow furrowed.

"Now let's see." She trailed off as a fedora was set atop my head. With her magic she wrapped a scarf around my neck loosely. She looked me over from different angles. "It needs something." She said raising a white hoof to her chin. "But what?"

"Why don't you give me a pair of shades so I can look like what, where I'm from, is known as 'a hipster douche-bag'."

She hummed curiously and walked off for a minute, coming back with a pair of aviator sunglasses and setting them on my nose. "Ooh, that does look good." She exclaimed happily.

"I feel empty right now." I muttered.

The fedora and sunglasses floated off me and were set aside. The scarf levitated off of my neck but remained in air while a sweater vest moved down onto me. She pulled it down as my head squeezed through the collar. My forelegs slipped up through it as it settled down around me. The scarf retook it's place around my neck.

"Oh, now don't you look handsome." She said using her hoof to tilt my head. "Now if only I had remembered to trim this just a little." She said as it absentmindedly rubbed along my jaw at the short beard I'd let grow over the last few weeks. "Oh listen to me. I sound as if I was your mother."

"Like I would know." I sighed bitterly.

"Oh, right." She said smiling sheepishly.

I unwrapped the scarf from around my neck and folded it with my hooves, handing it back to her. I slipped off the sweater vest and set it down with the other clothes. "If you're done I'll get going." I said softly.

"Oh, um." She looked back at the waiting pile of clothing to try out. "Yes, I believe we're finished for today. I have to, err...finish the suits. Yes, that's it." She said trying her hardest to make a convincing smile.

I started for the door.

"Oh, wait a moment please." She said hurrying over to me with the scarf. "I still say this looks quite well on you." The scarf wrapped around my neck. "Tell Twilight I said hello, would you dear?"

"Sure. Thanks I guess." I said walking out the door.

Rarity watched as I walked off down the street. She smiled softly and sighed. "I never imagined Twilight actually having somepony like that in her life."

I walked down the street going in some random direction. I didn't really care where I was going, I was just trying to take in as much fresh air as I could. I was tired of the scent of glitter and silk. Shit, the way that sounded it was like I was leaving a strip club. I was just getting into one of those funks like usual. After what Rarity said I began to think. What would my mother think of me if she found out about this. Hell, she was probably worried sick that me and Kian were gone. Just plucked out of thin air.

How would I tell her that my girlfriend was a small candy colored horse? How would I tell her me and Kian were small candy colored horses? "Well Shit." I thought. "I probably won't, like I won't tell Twilight about the rest of my life. Or Kian about the kind of things I'd done growing up."

I began to feel like more of 'has been' the longer I thought about it. But I realized that's exactly what I wanted. I had killed people. I had done horrible things. I had enjoyed the violence. But I was done with that life. Twilight was in it now and I just needed to forget about everything else. It seemed that the more I drank to forget, the more it lingered. Just when it couldn't of been worse my personal revenant decided to make an appearance.

"Wassup faggot?" He asked as he flapped next to me.

"Just fuck off dude." I exhaled.

"Can't."

"Why?"

"Bored."

"Oh."

I started to think back and figure something out. Yesterday he said he was me. But that can't be right, I don't act like that. It finally did hit me. He was the old me. The me I didn't want to be. At least not anymore. He was the me from a bleaker part of my life. When things were gray and all I felt was pain and anger. Seemed a fitting enough name.

"So I guess that means your sticking around for a while then, right Bleak?"

"You know it jackass."

Chapter 28: Jackass meets Equestria

I walked on through town, just a little more irritated now that he was here. "I really don't see how this is entertaining to you."

"I thinks it's funny cause you look like one of those stuck up douche-bags who read poetry in those weird coffee shops." He smirked

"At least I'm not wearing the fucking sweater vest. I looked like a total jack-ass in that thing."

"You were wearing one of those with this? Dammit, I wish I saw that!" He laughed.

A small white Pegasus colt with a brown mane zipped by with a weird camera device and snapped a picture of me before zipping back off.

"Well there goes a future Wonderbolt." I said looking at the dispersing dust cloud.

"The fuck was that all about?" Bleak asked.

I made an "I don't know" sound while shrugging. We walked on, well, I walked on and he flapped by or whatever the fuck he's doing.

"Incoming." He announced calmly.

"What?" I asked before a two-liter bottle of soda hit the ground nearby to explode into a foaming mess while spiraling off. I rolled out of the way narrowly avoiding it "What the fuck!"

"Are you sure about this?" Pinkie Pie asked looking at the crates of soda bottles beside them. "I don't think ponies would find this funny."

"Sure I'm sure." Justin said as he twisted the cap off one with a sizzling puff of air. "Who doesn't like soda?"

"And who doesn't like mints?" Jeremy asked as he dropped a mint in it and resealed it before shaking it in his hooves.

"I guess so." She said still unsure

"This is gonna be so fuckin' sweet man." Justin whispered to Jeremy as they bumped hooves. He grabbed the bottle and flapped his wings before flying up. He didn't go far before spotting a Unicorn with a nice haircut and an expensive looking scarf. "Bombs away." He chuckled as the bottle slipped from his hooves.

I looked up to see my least favorite orange and maroon Pegasus flying by with wide smile.

"Oh bring it on motherfucker." I galloped in pursuit of him from the ground.

"I knew I came in at the right time." Bleak laughed. "Diet coke and mints. That's a good one." He laughed while clutching his sides and flying beside me.

"Up yours." I panted.

I ducked and weaved around other ponies, taking quick glances up to make sure I was keeping with him. He was still a ways ahead of me. He began flying over buildings and I started taking to the alleyways between them.

"Where are you going?" Bleak asked from above me.

"Shortcut." I said swerving around a corner and back onto the main street. He slowed down and flew lower. "I have you now."

He landed next to Jeremy and Pinkie Pie. "Hey who's that pony?" She asked looking in my direction.

"What?" Justin asked turning just in time to see me lunge at him in a tackle.

"I'm gonna kick your ass so hard you won't be able to sit for a month." I snarled through gritted teeth.

"Oh uh, hey man." He said nervously as his ears drooped. "Wassup?"

My brow furrowed in a scowl.

"Can't you take a joke?" He asked pressing against the ground.

I stared intently as I leaned closer, absolute fury in my eyes.

"I-I-I-I'm uh, um...Eat my ass!" He yelled as he flapped his wings and zipped out from under me, flipping me over onto my back like he pulled the carpeting out from under my hooves.

I jumped back to my hooves and sprinted off after him. Pinkie and Jeremy watched as I chased after him. "What's that word for I've seen this before?" He asked.

"Ooh, ooh! Um, gesundheit? No, no, no, au revoir? No, wait! déjà woo!"

"Yeah, I think that's it." Jeremy said as Justin flew by with me behind.

"You guys are fun, you know that?" She asked watching me jump over a few baskets of fruit after Justin.

He shrugged and grabbed one of the bottles of diet soda from the crate, twisting off the cap and chugging it down. He let out a loud burp and went back into the crate grabbing another, tossing it to Pinkie.

"Thanks." She said watching Justin Fly over head with a wave of air blowing over them. I galloped past them with a trail of dust.

He sighed and watched me weave through ponies after Justin. "I hate being a lesser character.

"Don't worry, you'll get your spotlight sometime. I did." She said smiling brightly. Her stomach made a low growl "I'm kinda hungry. You hungry?"

"I could eat."

"Let's go. I know know this great little spot!" She said bouncing off.

"What about them?" He asked pointing a hoof at me and Justin.

"They'll just tire out or one of them give up or something." She said popping up from behind him.

"Fair enough." He said following her.

I chased after Justin as he flapped erratically. "Can't you take a joke!" He asked flying over a cart

"NO!" I yelled hopping up onto it and leaping toward him. My jaw snapped and clamped down on his tail pulling him down. He let out a whinnying yelp as we plummeted.

"Please don't kill me!" He begged as he flapped and pulled, not going anywhere with his tail in my mouth.

"What is it with you two and wrecking the town?" A familiar tomboyish voice asked from behind us.

I turned pulling Justin down to see a cyan Pegasus mare with a rainbow mane.

"Not a good time Dash." I said through a mouthful of tail.

"It's not that bad." Bleak said from beside me.

I ignored him and whipped my he down, slamming Justin flat across the ground. I set my hoof down on his tail to keep him down. "So what do you want?"

"Actually, him." She said pointing at Justin as he attempted to claw his way away.

"Wait, what? I don't think I heard that right. What?" I asked.

"I'm here for him." She repeated.

"Okay, you see I'm hearing what your saying but the words are in an order that makes no sense."

"For the love of god help me you stupid dike!" Justin yelped from next to me.

I shook my head staring down at him.

"I don't exactly wanna do this, but this letter showed up out of nowhere and said I had to. Something about getting him a job and stuff." She said pulling out a letter bound by a red ribbon and a golden seal.

She set it down as it unfurled and I read it.

"Dear Rainbow Dash, blah-blah-blah, request that you take the Pegasus Justin Salada under your wing, blah-blah-blah, Princess Celestia. Dammit." I sighed. "You got lucky asshole." I said looking down to Justin.

"Stupid bitch." Bleak groaned.

I lifted up my hoof and he sprang up to his hooves running behind Dash.

"Don't think twice about smacking him upside the head." I said dusting off my hooves.

"Will do." She said taking off. Justin followed her hastily.

I turned to look toward where Jeremy and Pinkie had been to see they were gone. "Where did they go?"

Chapter 29: New reading material

I hadn't even noticed their leave until then. "Whatever." I sighed looking around. I shook off a bit more dust before walking on. I could see just in the distance the familiar shape of an enormous oak tree. Well, it was only about noon and I'd wrapped what I had to do up. "I guess I'll just go home." I thought making my way toward the library. "Maybe Twilight can get a laugh in at how ridiculous this is for me. How do you go from president of a brutal biker group to...this?"

"I don't know, how do you?" Bleak asked.

"That was kind of rhetorical."

"Kind of hard to tell." He exhaled. "Jackass."

"Why don't you just leave me alone." I groaned.

"Cause I don't feel like it. That a good enough answer?" He asked.

"I wish I could touch you right now, because I would beat the living shit out of you if I could." I said staring at him.

"Eh, ditto." He sighed.

I neared the library and walked up the pathway, pushing through the front door. Twilight was lying on the floor nearby with a few open books scattered around her along with a stack of another dozen books on standby. She looked up from her book in the middle of flipping a page with her magic. "Welcome hom-... woah, you look good." She smiled.

"Thanks. Hey where's everyone else?" I asked stepping around books.

"Spike went out for a quick errand and Kian actually left long before you." She said looking back down to her book.

"Oh. So what have you been up to?" I asked.

"Nothing really, catching up on my studies, reading some of my stockpile, going over the buildup of mail I'd received. Who would've thought two weeks gone would leave me with so much."

"Well you did disappear with out warning. I bet quite a bit were letters to see if you were okay and things like that." I chuckled looking down at some of the books.

"Not really, no." She said switching books.

"Hmm, weird." I said finding both that and the book I was looking at interesting. I read over the title a few times trying to wrap my head around it. Printed out in a reflective gold atop a worn green hard cover; Everfree: an Equestrian bestiary. "Neat."

I moved the book and turned over the cover and the blank first page. The next was the title in the same font, only printed in black ink. Below it was the author; Leafy Thicket, and a small message. A collection of research and gathered field data accumulated over decades. May whoever ventures into these woods know that this book shall help you greatly in your endeavor.

My interest was peaked, I had to give it that. I looked down the side at the pages. It was at least two whole inches thick. "Challenge accepted." I thought confidently. "But first..." I closed the book and trotted off toward the kitchen. Luckily she had a kettle of her own so I refilled it and lit one of the burners on the stove. While the kettle filled up slowly, I rummaged through the cabinets looking for what I needed. "If you have a kettle then you must have...Aha!" I levitated out a small jar of dry black leaves. The lid twisted off and I held in my blue aura up to my nose, breathing deeply. A strong bittersweet with a strength I could almost taste. "Fuckin' jackpot! This is prime shit. "

The kettle filled and I dropped a few leaves in, setting it on the burner and walking back into the library. I lied down beside Twi and slid the book over, opening it again and turning to the first page. "If this is like a text book then I guess I'll do my own studying." I thought. I used my magic and flipped through pages randomly, one caught my eye. I flatened out the page and read it.

Timberwolves - Canis Arbora Lupus,
A magical wolf species that is native to the Everfree forest and it's surrounding areas. These creatures are entirely similar to their mammalian counterparts, though are entirely composed of wooden materials, lacking any muscular, skeletal, or nervous frame. These creatures instead rely a bodily system like that of a tree. They gain sustenance through carnivore like means by eating smaller animals. Peculiarly, they do not actually eat the creatures, lacking an internal digestive system. Rather, they kill and dismember their prey, swallowing the remains where inside they decompose and transfer nutrients to the Timberwolf.

Timberwolves are known for many strange traits and actions. One of which is their reactions to changes in their environments such as performing different motions, sounds, and actions to signify the pollination of local vegetation. It is assumed that said vegetation may have a magical connection to the Timberwolves, alerting them of the changes.

A Timberwolf is one of the more dangerous creatures of the Everfree, not for the fact that they are pack hunters or have sharp fang and claw like features, but for what resides on the fangs. Because they feed on other animals, the decomposing material inside has been known to accumulate fungus and bacteria which are highly toxic. The highest percentage of the bacteria gathers in the mouth region of the Timberwolf, making their bite much worse than their bark.

Next to it was a sketch of a lone canine shaped creatures with a skin made of bark and fur-like features made of moss, leaves, and sticks. It's eyes were blank and empty.

A sharp whistle from the kitchen caught my attention. I moved my book to the side and hopped to my hooves, trotting over to the kitchen. The scent of the tea washed over me as I moved it to another burner and turned the first one off. I breathed deeply, taking in the calming air as the whistling pot of tea died down. I levitated a few cups down and poured the tea, warm steam rising from them. I levitated the cups and walked back out with them following and lied back down beside Twilight. I set the cups down in front of us.

Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath, smiling softly. She let the breath out through her mouth and looked up to me. She leaned her head against my neck, nuzzling it. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too." I whispered back, burying my muzzle into her mane. I savored her light grassy scent like I always did. I could feel the warmth I always did burn in my chest. Everything felt right with the world at that moment. It always did at times like this. I planted a quick peck on her forehead and pulled my book back over with my hoof.

Each cup became surrounded by a magical aura and levitated up to us. I sipped mine, the hot liquid trickled down my throat and warmed my stomach. Twi sipped hers and set it down with a content smile. We each went back to reading our own books.

Chapter 30: Like a family

I continued reading on. There was a small side note under the picture that was written in a pen. The bites of a Timberwolf can cause an infection more deadly than just it's sharp bite. The infectious bacteria has been known to cause sepsis.

The world floated around my head. Sepsis...sepsis. "Hey Twi," I said looking down to her. "Do you have any medical guides?"

"Hmm.." Her horn became surrounded by her purple magic. A thick red and white book floated over to us and was set down beside me.

"Thanks." I said turning it over and opening from the back. I flipped through the pages backwards until I found the letter S in the glossary. "S...s...s... Aha, here we go." I thought finding it. "S,e...s,e...Sepsis; page three-forty-one." I flipped through the pages with my magic until I landed on the page. At the bottom of the page printed in blue was what I was looking for.

Sepsis- a blood poisoning - an autoimmune response to bacterial infection that creates clots in the blood stream.

On the next pages was a diagram of a ponies internal organs.

Sepsis initially attacks the heart and lungs, but it eventually affects brain function, causing agitation, confusion, and hallucinations.

Below it was a small caption.

Sepsis has a 40% mortality rate. However, the percentage increases with delayed treatment.

There was a knock at the door, both me and Twilight turning to it in sync. I closed the book and hopped up to my hooves, making my way over to it. I opened the door to see Applejack standing on the other side.

"Uh, hey Applejack whats up?" I asked a little surprised at her appearance.

"Uh, howdy mister. Is James, and Twilight, and all them here?' She asked not knowing who I was.

"Oh, ah ha ha. Very funny AJ." I said sarcastically.

"I didn' mean ta be funny if'n it upsets you." She said plainly. "I jus' wanted to know if ma friends were here."

"Seriously?" I asked as my brow furrowed. "You really don't know who I am?"

"Nope."

I opened my mouth to say something, but stopped myself and looked over to Twilight. She rolled her eyes and smiled, having heard the entire on the conversation. I looked back to AJ. "So just what did you want to tell them?"

"Well, I was gonna invite 'em over fer lunch." She explained.

"Lunch sound good to you?" I asked looking back to Twilight.

She nodded and closed her book, standing up.

"Great, then I guess were going to lunch." I said walking out around Applejack. I could see Spike walking up the pathway. "C'mon Spike, we're goin' to lunch." I said walking past him.

"Cool. Where?" He asked turning around and following me.

"AJ's"

Applejack and Twilight stood outside the doorway to the library, watching me and Spike walk away. "Wait, that was..."

"Mmhmm." Twilight nodded.

"Gosh, and I really thought..."

"Yep."

"He cleans up pretty good." She said with a 'not bad' sort of expression.

"I know." Twilight said smiling.

"You see Kian while you were out?" I asked while Spike walked beside me.

"Nope."

"Damn. Oh well." I sighed. "What do you think Spike? Did Rarity do a good job."

"Yeah." He sighed dreamily.

"I wonder what Kian's up to right now."

He walked along the outside of town through the open grassy fields, a soft breeze blew by, wavering the grass around him. It was a beautiful day and he did what he usually did: explore. So he walked on though the grass. A short distance away was the edge of a thick forest, one darker than he'd ever seen. Something like that would have been 'same-old, same-old' for his older brother. But for him, it was different. He'd never been in a forest or the woods before. Never been camping or on nature trips. Mom always didn't listen when he asked about doing for field trips or vacations, now he knew why.

He'd always imagined what it would be like, but it never involved piss wrenching creepiness. It was so thick and dark, all he could see was the outermost trees and shrubbery. Just the sight of that alone was enough to shoot down any thought of entrance. How could his brother stay sane living in something like that for the majority of his life.

He decided to push it out of mind starting to get the heebie-jeebies. He could not to far away was one of Twilight's friends homes. What was her name? Fluttershy? He could see the yellow Pegasus as she tended to her animals. He'd already met one of Twilight's friends, might as well get to know the other ones too...

We were just outside Sweet Apple Acres, making our way down the dirt road. Me and Twilight walked side-by-side, Spike rode on her back. Applejack walked on the other side of me, a few feet away. We made our way up the pathway to the farmhouse, a picnic table set up with a bunch of apple based deserts covering it. Around it sat the large red stallion and the old green mare. Big Mac and Granny Smith.

"Wow, I uh, don't know where to start." I said as we sat down around the table.

"Oh yeah, apple, apple, or apple. That's a tough decision." Bleak said sitting down in the empty spot to my right.

"And I thought my day might start going a little better. So much for that." I thought trying to pick what to try out. I settled on a piece of apple crumble to my right, levitating it over.

"So just who's this big fella?" Granny Smith asked looking over to me.

"Actually Granny, he's the one from yesterday." Applejack stated matter-of-factually.

"Is that right? Well it's nice to meet you, sonny. Ya look a mighty bit different then how I figured. What are ya, one 'o them Canterlot ponies?" She asked.

"No, but the way I grew up I definitely know my way around a tree." I said looking down at my plate. "And believe me, I didn't really imagine myself looking like this either."

"Well ya sure know how ta bring in apples. Sorry ya got buried in them after all yer hard work." She said sincerely.

"What's she talking about?" Twilight asked with a worried look.

"I kinda...maybe...got buried in apples yesterday." I said smiling sheepishly.

"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded.

"We had ta dig 'em out. When we did find 'em he was out cold." Applejack said looking over to me.

"Yeah, remember all the fun we had?" Bleak asked creepily. My back tensed trying to ignore him, the memory

"Ya didn't tell her?" Applejack asked

"No, I didn't because I didn't want to worry her." I said through a tight smile.

Twilight moved her hoof over to mine under the table. I looked over to her from the corner of my eyes to see her soft smile.

"This was something I wanted to avoid, but you took it better." I sighed looking down at my food. "This looks great."

"Thank ya." Applejack said proudly.

"Well, let's eat."

Chapter 31: Animal house(Kian)

He made his way up toward the side of her house where she tended to each of the pens. She carried a large bag of feed in her mouth, scooping out what she could with her hoof and tossing it out to the chickens. It boggled him just how she could carry a bag roughly twice her size and weight. He walked around the fencing to the gate and walked in. "Uh, hey."

"Oh, um... hello." She said softly, turning to see him. "You're Twilight's friend's brother, er, right?"

"Yeah, My name's Kian." He said walking over to her.

"Well it's nice to get to meet you Kian. Oh, uh, my name is-"

"Fluttershy." He said finishing her sentence. "I saw you at the party."

Her eyes began looking along the ground.

He couldn't figure out why. Trying to keep up a conversation of sorts he turned his attention toward the animals. "These are some very nice chickens."

"Oh, why thank you." She said donning a smile. "I was just feeding them and all my other animal friends. Do you know anything taking care of animals?"

"Yeah, I've worked with animals before. I uh, volunteered at the animal shelters."

"Ooh, how lovely. And lots of ponies help the little animals?" She asked with peaked interest.

"Oh yeah. They adopt pets and help out local animals. All sorts."

"Do you think...if you don't mind, that is, you could...possibly help with the animal friends?" She asked making a cute smile and a disembodied 'squee'.

"Woah, what was that?" He asked looking around.

"That just happens sometimes." She explained.

"Okay." He said slowly.

"Here, you can take this bag, if you want, and feed all the birdies." She said pulling it over with her teeth it over.

"Alright, what are you gonna do?" He asked trying to drag it.

"I'll go back inside and get the food for the bunny rabbits." She said fluttering off.

He watched as she left. Her flight was smooth and graceful, almost relaxing to watch. There was something to her that seemed so different to anyone else he'd yet to meet. An innocence, a purity, as if nothing bad could ever happen. He felt at peace at that moment, taking on one of the few smiles that really meant something. He dragged the heavy bag along, scooping out hoof-fulls of seeds and tossing them out to the gathering birds. Things like birds were a minority at the more urban animal shelters. The only birds he'd dealt with was the occasional parrot at the shelter and lots of pigeons everywhere else.

The colorful birds pecked hungrily at the seeds as they lied about the grass and dirt. They were all different. In size, in shape, in color. Small finches and jays, colorful larks and maybe a cardinal or two. They all fluttered and hopped around him for seed. He walked on and scooped out another hoof-full, scattering it along the ground. Some of the birds followed over to it and began pecking at the seed. The ones who hadn't gotten enough. Another few feet and another hoof-full to be tossed around to him. All the birds were along the spans of about twelve or so feet, mixed together, chirping and singing.

Fluttershy walked back around the cottage with a large bowl of flowers and vegetables. She looked over at him to see the mass of birds all around him that were happily eating away. He noticed and they made eye contact, sharing a smile. She fluttered over to the gathering rabbits and set the bowl down on the grass. The small rabbits hopped over to her, taking leaves of lettuce and carrots from it before munching down on them. Kian sneaked his way around the birds, trying not to disturb them. It was a lot more precarious now that he had four legs rather than two. He stretched out, easing his hooves onto open spots. A chickadee hopped between his front legs as he lifted one, one of his hind legs was extended out as a jay pecked at the ground below.

He tensed in place as the small birds moved around and under him. A finch pecked at a seed beside his hoof, missing it and touching the fetlocks around his hoof. It moved it's beak around in the outer layer of fur before nuzzling in her against his hoof. The soft, downy feathers of it's head felt warm and comforting to the touch.

"H-hey, knock it off. That, that, th-that, that tickles." He laughed teetering back and forth. "Please, shoo." He said moving his hoof around. It brushed against the small birds and it lovingly moved against it, enjoying the rub. "Stop it, that really tickles." He pleaded.

Fluttershy giggled watching him fuss over it. The birds really liked him and he seemed like a nice colt. Well, he wasn't really a colt, but he was young. She had to have been a good five or six years older than him. Her thoughts were cut short as he tumbled down with a yelping "Crap!", birds around him scattered. He hit the grass with a soft thud on his side, the birds fluttering back around him and atop him. She trotted over to him hurriedly.

"Oh my, are you alright?" She asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." He sighed. "Are the birds alright?" He asked craning his neck to look around himself.

She smiled at his sincerity. He was very different from other young stallions. More down to earth. "All the little birdies look fine." She said looking around him.

"Great, I don't need hurting a bird on my conscience." He grunted as he rolled back to his front. The birds atop him hopped down to the ground and continued peck at the seeds. They moved around between him and her. He stood up from the grass shaking off the seeds now stuck to his coat.

"Here, let me help, if that's alright?" She offered.

"Sure." He said looking around awkwardly.

She brushed her hoof along his side, knocking off the seeds that clung to his coat.

"Um thanks." He said with a smile, avoiding eye contact. It felt strange having her touch him. Almost tingly. He felt a fuzzy warmth spread over himself, but he dismissed it as friendliness from a bird he couldn't see.

"Your, uh, your welcome." She said softly looking off. It felt similar to her. A tingle almost from it. She felt a warmth come over her, much residing on her cheeks.

Chapter 32: More than just a dream

I sat there at the table looking down at my plate. A few crumbs was all that remained of the apple crumble. One item of food never filled me like that before. A piece of desert certainly never even came close. My moved along the wall of my mouth, licking at the sweet apple and cinnamon flavor that stuck to them. I looked over to Twilight who was in a similar predicament. Hoof was held down to her stomach below the table. She looked up to me and we shared a smile happily. It felt like were already a family together. Even though it was really just the two of us. Well there was Spike and Kian, where ever the hell he was, but that's not what I meant. Close enough anyways.

I looked back down to my plate and back up to across the table. "So, which one of you two lovely ladies do I thank for this?" I asked looking between Granny Smith and Applejack.

Applejack cleared her throat, giving answer.

"Well thank you for the meal and, if you guys are ready, I guess we'll be on our way." I said looking over to Spike and Twilight.

Twilight nodded and Spike swallowed a large mouthful. "Ready."

"Sure, let's get the fuck out of here." Bleak sighed.

I just ignored him. "Alright." I said standing up. "It was nice of you having us and I'll see you guys later."

"G'bye, Twilight. G'bye, Spike." Applejack waved. "See ya tomorrow, James."

Twilight walked down the path toward the road with me, Spike on her back. "So what do we feel like when we get home?" I asked.

"Maybe some more reading." She said looking off. "I don't really know myself. I'm feeling a bit tired after all that."

"I hear that." Spike said sprawled out over her back.

"A nap sounds good." I said looking over at Bleak as he walked next to me. He looked at me surprised, smirking suggestively. I shook my head and looked up toward a still cloud. "I wonder what Kian's up to now?"

"So um...is there any other animals needed to be fed?" He asked breaking the awkward silence.

"Um, no, that's all of them." She said softly.

"Well I guess it was nice meeting you." He said starting to walk off.

"W-wait, um, I just wanted to say; thank you for helping me." She said smiling softly. "Would you maybe like to stay for tea?" She asked.

"Uh, okay." He said looking around. "Well geez, isn't this just nice."

She smiled brightly and trotted around the cottage. Kian followed her, finding his day not going so bad after all.

I pushed through the door, holding it open with my hoof. Twilight walked through carrying a dozed off Spike on her back. I didn't see where Bleak was. I'd hoped he'd left for the while. She stepped over a few scattered books, making way to the stairs. I looked down to the mess of books we left. She went up a few steps before stopping to look back over her shoulder. "You coming." She asked quietly.

"Yeah, just give me a minute." I answered back, matching her volume.

She nodded and walked up the stairway into the bedroom. I looked back down to the books and focused on the ones nearby. They became surrounded by a blue aura and levitated over toward the small stacks. I started another and moved them to the side with the rest. I moved on to the books Twilight had left, closing them and setting them down with the others. Closing one, the title and cover caught my eye. I levitated it close, holding it straight and reading it. Families for beginning parents.

A smile crept onto my face. I sometimes imagined what it would be like, us, kids. The real thing. That dream of a life worth living. I dreamed of that when I was a kid. Well, not really a kid, but you'd get what I mean. When I was hitch hiking my way south. I rode in the boxcars of trains when I could find them. I talked and shared stories with the homeless men and woman. Stories of how they got where they were and what they used to have. Families, homes, dreams. It made me make up my own plans. I'd find a nice woman, settle down, make a living off something honest. That sure happened.

It felt nice to know I'd made some steps closer. I set the book down with the piles and levitated the emptied cups of tea, carrying them toward the kitchen. I set them down in the sink and walked back out, going up the stairs to the bedroom. At the top I saw Twilight pulling the covers over Spike in his basket with her magic. I stepped up beside her, wrapping my forelegs around her. She leaned her head against my neck, the both of us looking down at the sleeping dragon. He snored quietly, his blanket rising up and lowering down. I had to admit, for that moment, he seemed cute.

"Hey, Twi." I said softly.

"Yes?"

"Do you think we should have our own kids one day?" I asked.

"Maybe." She answered. I could see out of the corner of my eye a smile along her face.

"Alright." I said letting go and walking over to the bed. I turned back around to Twilight to receive a peck on my cheek. I watched her walk around the other side onto the bed. She hopped up onto it and rested her head on the pillow, looking over to me smiling. I smiled and hopped up onto it, the mattress creaking under my weight. I lied down next to her on my back, staring at the ceiling. She hugged onto me, her face nuzzling my neck. I started to think about it more. "Hey, Twi."

"Yes." She said softly.

"If we did, what would name them?" I asked.

"I don't know." She said thinking about it herself.

"I always liked the name Alice." I smiled. "Could you imagine that? A little filly named Alice?"

She made a soft giggle. "I could imagine."

"But that's not really a name for a pony though."

"Well neither is James, but nopony seems to mind." She laughed.

"I guess so." I chuckled.

"We're still a ways away from that." She said with a hint of nervousness.

"I know," I said looking down to her. "I just like to think about it."

We shared a smile, looking at each other. Our muzzles pressed together in a kiss, holding it. We split and she rested her head on my neck, my hoof rubbing along her side. I definitely wasn't going to sleep. Too risky. I guess lying here with Twilight would be a better alternative.

Chapter 33: A long-ass vacation

Our breathing was synched, our chests briefly touching for consecutive moments. Her head was in my neck, the scarf around it like a another cushion. My hoof stroked along her gently, moving with the grain of her smooth coat. I lifted it up and slowly moved toward her face. My hoof scratched lightly behind her ear. She gave off a hum of satisfaction and rubbed her nose deeper into the scarf. I could see the soft smile across her face as she slept. I smiled as well, craning my neck in a way not to disturb her. A blue aura surrounded my horn along with the blanket, gently pulling it out from beneath us. It slid smoothly under us, slipping out just below me. It floated up over us and settled down, wrapping us both.

I lied there with Twilight beside me, just thinking about things. The more I did think about our predicament, the more it felt like some long-ass vacation.

"Thanks again for the tea. Uh, I'll see you later, Fluttershy." Kian said walking down the pathway from her cottage, crossing the bridge and reaching the main road.

"You're welcome, Kian. Goodbye." She said waving from the doorway.

The kid walked down the dirt road back toward town. A smile across his face and thoughts on his mind. A crappy start to his day was at least somewhat balanced out. She was nice, friendly,...cute. He tried shaking his head to get the thought out of his mind. He felt weird having thoughts like that. If it was a girl maybe, but a pony? This was a whole 'nother ball game. But the more and more he had thought about it made it seem less alien. The thought of her sweet voice... Her long mane... Her cyan colored eyes.

Again he tried to shake it out of mind, but he couldn't. She was stuck on his mind and he couldn't do a thing about it. He did what any kid his age would do. He went on auto-pilot while he daydreamed. His hooves lost all feeling of the pounded dirt below them. He cantered on, a shy yellow Pegasus amidst the clouds his head was in. He passed through the very outskirts and into Ponyville, walking past shops and homes of all its residence. All the colorful ponies around him going on about their day. He was still oblivious about it all, stuck in his own little world.

One shop he passed by was different. Outside were tables and ponies around them, enjoying a mid-day meal. Amidst the group at the edge of it was a table with a bubbly Pink earth pony mare and a permanently relaxed Mule.

"Ya know what?" Jeremy asked through a mouthful of daffodil and daisy sandwich. "For flowers and weeds, this shit ain't bad."

"Well what do you normally eat?" Pinkie asked with her own mouthful of hay fries. "Just hay and carrots?"

He swallowed hard. "Beans, rice, tomatoes, brain-"

"Wait what was that last one?" She asked cutting him off curiously.

"Brain? Oh man, that shit's sooo good." He said rubbing his stomach. "A beef brain taco, that's some good shit right there."

"You eat brains...Like a zombie?!" She let out a small scream and dove under the table. Her head popped out from under the other side. "You're fun! You know that?"

Kian walked past them without even acknowledging their existence.

"Wassup man?" Jeremy asked looking at him with a raised hoof.

Pinkie's head twisted around following him. "Kian! Hey-hey, Kian!" She called out waving to him.

He still didn't notice them.

"What's with him?" Pinkie asked curiously. Jeremy only shrugged, taking another bite from his sandwich.

A yellow Pegasus mare with a long pink mane lied in the grass beside a river with a young Earth stallion. His coat was a creme and his mane was a dark chestnut. The two of them lied next to each other smiling, watching the birds fly by and the rabbits scamper along. The water flowed quietly, the sun gleaming off it brilliantly. The tall grass around them wavered in the wind.

Kian walked on through town, subconsciously knowing where he was going. He passed a few more shops and buildings before walking just on the edge of an open expanse with a few scattered trees and benches. A small pathway went through it and branched off in all directions. Ponies played, walked, and relaxed throughout the park. Up above them was a medium sized cloud with two Pegasi sitting atop it. A cyan mare with a prismatic mane and an orange stallion with a maroon mane.

"As of now, it's your job to help with the weather over Ponyville. Let's start this out easy. Go clear out those clouds." She said pointing at the few clouds over the park.

"How?" He asked confusedly.

She flapped her wings and hover above him, flying down to the side of the cloud. "Like this!" She said bucking her hind legs out, hitting the cloud.

It dispersed from beneath him. He plummeted a few feet before flapping his wings erratically and flying back up to her. "Funny" He said sarcastically, his eyes narrowed. "Fine, I'll go get rid of the stupid fu-" He stopped mid sentence when he spotted a familiar young stallion. "Oh look, it's Kian."

"Who?" Rainbow Dash asked with a raised brow.

"James' bother." He sighed.

"Oh."

He rolled his eyes and flew down to above ground level, flying beside Kian. "Hey man, wassup?" he asked.

He received no reply as Kian walked on blankly, a faint smile on his face.

"What's with him." Dash asked flying down beside Justin.

"Eh, I think I might know." He said watching Kian walk off.

"What?" She asked curiously.

"He probably just payed a visit to Pinkie Pie." He said plainly.

"What do you mean?" She asked growing more curious.

He leaned close and whispered into her ear. Her eyes widened at what she heard.

Kian walked on, nearing the library. He was only a few houses away, still in his little daydream. He walked up the pathway to the enormous tree and pushed through the doorway. He finally snapped out of it and looked around the empty library to see no one was there. He walked over to the living room; empty. The kitchen; empty. No one was there. He shrugged and walked back through the main library to the room he'd been staying in for the while. It was simple. A bed, a night stand, a desk. Basic. He hopped onto the made bed, lying back and relaxing.

He decided to do what he usually did when at home and alone. His hoof moved down off the bed and over to the nightstand drawer. He slid it open and gathered the pencil and notepad that he'd taken from the desk earlier. He lied down on his front, the pencil in his teeth, and drew on the note pad. Sketches and little doodles were a pass time for him. He was pretty good at it too. In no time at all he finished the start to it and began adding small details. Curves and features mostly. After a while he'd finished it. He lied there atop his bed staring at it proudly.

Chapter 34: Pinkie Promise(Kian)

He lied there atop his bed, thinking fondly of the meek yellow Pegasus. Maybe things weren't so bad after all. He'd made some friends. A few different kinds of friends at that, but friends all the same. He felt a little more free to live comfortably. Sure, he'd miss his hands, but that was a worth while sacrifice. He sighed and picked the note pad up with his teeth, tossing it back into the drawer of the nightstand. He dropped the pencil in with it and pushed it shut, lying back in the bed. His relaxation was cut short by a knock at the door he could just hear.

He rolled off the bed to his hooves and walked out of his room, back into the main library. He made his way toward the door, his hooves softly echoing through the quiet tree. The clopping sound of them on the wooden floor seemed almost cartoon like. He stood on the other side of the door, pushing it open. No body was there. He peaked his head out, looking left and right. There wasn't anyone around to be found. He shrugged and closed the door, walking back toward the room. The door to his bedroom was closed. This struck him as odd since he hadn't closed it on his way out.

He pushed through the door into the empty room, deciding to pull it closed behind him. The handle clicked into place as the door closed and he walked over to the bed. He pulled himself up and lied down on his back staring at the ceiling, thinking nothing of the front door. Maybe he had just thought he'd heard something.

"Surprise." He heard whispered into his ear.

He vaulted right off the bed in terror, hitting the ground with a thud and scrambling across the floor in panic. He looked around to see the familiar face of an ecstatic pink mare climbing up onto the bed. He sat there on the ground, his ragged breathing slowing down. He could feel his heart pound in his chest.

"I said 'hi' and waved at you. Why didn't you listen?" Pinkie asked.

"Sorry my, uh, head must not have been in the right place." He said pushing himself back to his hooves. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I got an itch that I wanted you to scratch." She said lying comfortably on his bed. She patted the spot on the bed next to her with a hoof.

"What, you wanted me to scratch your back or something?" He asked lifting his hooves up onto the edge of the mattress.

"No silly," She giggled. "I wanted to have some fun."

"I'm not following." He said confusedly, climbing up onto the bed.

She rubbed her other hoof down her side and along her flank. She smiled suggestively, her eyelids lowered.

He gawked with widening eyes, message finally received. He sighed and lied down, facing away from her. He felt twisted inside. He liked Fluttershy. He liked her a lot. It felt wrong doing something like that. He didn't know why. "I don't know, Pinkie" He said softly.

"Why? What's the matter, Kian?" She asked feeling genuinely concerned. She placed a hoof on his shoulder. "You can tell me, we're friends."

"I...I think...I might...like your friend Fluttershy." He choked out, flinching in recoil of what she might say.

"So? I like her too. She's my friend." She said with a soft smile.

"No, not like that, Pinkie." He said relaxing. "I mean: I think I 'like her' like her. Like...a lot."

"Oh." She said understanding. "Well that doesn't matter we can still have fun, right? I mean, it's not like you're with her. Are you?"

"No." He sighed. "But...I don't know. I met her today, and I really liked her. I don't know if she likes me back." He said sadly. "We're just friends, I guess."

"Well that's okay. You're still open to have fun." She said smiling brightly.

She was sort of right. He'd only met her, and it was just a crush. He could still mess around. But this left a bad taste in his mouth. It made him feel guilty. He turned over to face her. "Maybe."

"Here, I'll make you a deal. As long as you don't have a fillyfriend we can still have our fun. And when you do, we won't anymore." She offered.

He thought about it for a moment. It was a nice offer, anyone else probably would. "You mean it?" He asked.

"Positively." She said nodding. "As long as we can still be friends after."

He liked Pinkie too. Not in that sort of way, but she was a friend. A good friend. She would always be that fun friend of his. "Sure." He said as the corner of his mouth rose into a smile.

"You promise?" She asked.

"I promise." He sighed.

"Pinkie promise?" She said pushing him on.

"How do I do that?" He asked confused.

She extend a hoof and placed it on his chest, moving over it in an 'x'. "Cross your heart," She said softly. " and hope to fly." She flapped her forelegs demonstrating. She re-extended her hoof and gently placed it over his left eye. "Stick a cupcake in your eye."

"Alright." He nodded.

"Yay," She said smiling happily.

"So what do you want me to do?" He asked getting down to business.

"Whatever you want to." She said laying back amorously. Her hind legs spread, the puffy pink lips of her slit splayed. He felt aroused just seeing it. He took lead, moving on top. She smiled sexily, her eye lids lowered. She leaned forward planting a kiss across his lips. She split off, her cheeks gaining a darker pink hue. "If you want, we can pretend I'm Fluttershy." She offered.

He smiled softly. "Really?"

"What are friends for?" She said smirking.

"Alright." He said taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused, thinking of Fluttershy in Pinkie's place. When he opened his eyes, under him lying submissively was a blushing Fluttershy. She looked off coyly, a soft smile across her face. Her long pink bang hung over one eye, the other shimmered in the dim light. She looked beautiful. He'd all but forgotten it was really Pinkie. He felt warm, cozy almost. Happy.

He could already feel himself start to slip out. Creme splotched brown inched it's way out, growing slowly in stature. It hung down under it's own weight, flopping down onto her stomach. It extended farther, creeping up toward her chest. He could feel the friction of it brushing along her soft smooth coat. It nearly made it to her chest, stopping just at it. It throbbed in the open air of the room, the coolness of the air edging him on. She had turned, her bang no longer hanging over her face. She stared down at it, her face in a bright blush and her mouth slightly ajar at it's sight. Her chest began to puff out as she took deeper and deeper breaths.

His face felt hot as he looked down at his own arousal. Just past that he could see the lips of her mound, slightly damp from her own arousal. The fur around them was darker from the dampness, the lips of her flower glistening. He took another deep breath and focused. The base of his shaft touched down on her swollen lips, sliding down. Her juices smeared along it, lessening the the effort and making it slick. She breathed raggedly as his shaft rubbed down along her slit, it brushed along her clit and her lips parted around it as the whole of it pressed onto them.

The tip neared her clit and he stopped, looking up to her. Her faced blushed harder. A bead of sweat ran down the side of her forehead as she bit her lip. He moved his hips forward, sliding back up it. The length of it rubbed hard against her clit as it stuck out from atop her flower. He moved back and forth slowly, taking his time and sharing the pleasure. The feeling of her button rubbing hard against his shaft was new and he savored the new feeling. She let slip a quiet moan as he rubbed harder.

"Faster...please." She squeaked.

He did as he was asked, shifting his hips with heightened pace. His shaft rubbed between her lips and onto her clit faster, the friction making it feel even warmer than it already was. She let out another squeak of joy, loving it. He bit down hard on his own lip, a droplet of pre leaked from the flat tip of his member. It dripped down onto her yellow coat, mixing in as he worked.

"More." She moaned softly.

He took that as cue, his rod sliding down along her lips one final time. He moved his hips back as far as he could, his member sliding back and bending to the awkward position as much as he could. It hurt immensely as he felt the weight fight against the strength of his hardened length. The tip of it was just outside her entrance, the flat head resting against her moist puffy lips. He adjusted his back comfortably, moving slowly to un-kink himself. He let out a labored grunt as he felt a twinge coarse through his loins, closing his eyes in pain

He felt something firm press against it, helping correct it. He was realigned and the pain ceased. He opened his eyes to see a yellow hoof move gently against it. He looked up to see a soft smile across her face as she panted. He smiled at her assistance at the worst possible time for him. He steadied himself and began his descent, the flat head of his shaft easing in. It pressed against her tight opening, squeezing through with a pleasured moan from the yellow mare. He slid further in, 'Fluttershy' moaning more audibly as he dove deeper into her. Her slick juices made it easy as his thick shaft slid farther down into her.

Her flower was warm and moist, everything he'd expected and then some. He went in as much as he could before their hips were locked and he was pressing her hard against the mattress. He still had roughly an inch left, but couldn't go any further. Being that, he began pulling out. His hard rod being hugged by her tight walls as it slid smoothly out. Her eyes were shut tight and her tongue was stuck out in ecstasy. She bit down on it to keep herself from screaming out in absolute pleasure. Roughly half way out he dove back in, sliding back to the point of his farthest reach. Her head threw back as she moaned out at the feeling of him filling her again.

He pumped in and out repeatedly, following the same pattern. Sliding half way out and going right back in. She moaned as he entered, taking him for everything he had and sighed as he pulled out, hugging around his member tightly.

"Harder...faster...deeper..." She begged, gasping between words.

He did just that, thrusting faster and pressing down harder. Her hooves moved up, holding onto his shoulders tightly. Their noses were pressed together, sweat running down either's face. There was a musk between them that reeked of sex. He pumped harder, the pressure building inside. Her own wall had come close to collapsing.

"...Harder..." She moaned. He thrusted with even greater speed, the mattress beginning to creak under them. "...Harder..." He kept giving harder, the mattress creaked and 'Fluttershy' moaned, both growing louder. "...Harder..." She pleaded. He finally let go and gave his all. He pumped and rut with all his strength and speed, his stamina burning away. She moaned louder still, the mattress creaking and popping under the stress. He let everything out, giving all that he had to give and more. They bounced with the mattress, having all the fun they wanted. "...I...I think I might...I think I'm gonna..." She was gasping between words, feeling the pressure hard.

"I know, me too." He moaned feeling the same. "You ready?" He asked.

She nodded as he continued his rut. Their foreheads pressed against each other as he moved without holding back. She gave a loud moaning sigh as something thick and sticky leaked. He grunted loudly, sighing in an exhale as a shot of thick and sticky seed gushed out. It mixed with her femme cum as it leaked out around his softening member from her tight hole. He slid out, rolling off of her onto his back. He panted and calmed, sweat soaked through his coat. She hugged onto him panting. She too was wet with her own perspiration. He folded his forelegs behind his head comfortably as he relaxed. She rested her head on his, one foreleg slipped between his and his neck, wrapping around his other shoulder. The other was lying atop his chest, rubbing it lovingly.

Their heartbeats were matched as they drifted off in post coital bliss together. The shroud faded and the yellow Pegasus went back to being who she really was. The yellow of her coat turned to pink and the pink of her mane darkened. With the last of his strength he performed what he'd learned. He moved one of his hooves from behind his head and placed it on her chest, right above her heart. "Cross my heart and hope to fly," His hoof lifted up from her chest and moved up to her face, a soft and relaxed smile across it. He placed it gently over her right eye. "Stick a cupcake in my eye."

His hoof settled back down to his side as he drifted off. The last thing he felt was a soft peck being placed on his cheek.

Chapter 35: A special recipe[Dark]

I felt calm and relaxed, comfortable. My eyelids felt heavy. They drooped down, nearly closing before I forced them back open. "I can't sleep. Bad shit." I was weighed down by my comfort. My head grew fuzzy as I tried to fight. It overpowered me, my eyes closing. I tried to open them but couldn't. All my strength went into it, but it did no good. My mind drifted off as I fell asleep.

My eyes eased back open and I looked around groggily. My eyes were fuzzy and clouded. I could barely see. I tried to lift an arm up to rub my eyes but I couldn't move it. I tried again but still couldn't move. I had to blink it off, closing and reopening my eyes repeatedly. It was still unclear as I looked around, my neck was stiff and I felt something hard dig into it when I moved it. I craned my neck to look around. I could just see around myself. I was a pony this time at least. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. I was strapped to some kind of table that was upright, leather straps bound me to it. Each of my limbs were bound above the hooves and at the joints where my elbows and knees would have been. I My hind and forelegs were spread out some.

"What the fuck." I wheezed. My throat felt dry, painfully dry. Like I'd been sick or something. I squirmed under my bindings. I leaned forward and felt something press against my throat. I could just see out the corner of my eye a strap across my neck as well. "What the fuck is going on?!" I yelled.

"Oh goodie, you're awake!" I heard from a familiar voice. It held a certain campy bubbliness to it. A small overhead light flicked on over me. A single light-bulb that hung down from a cord. It swung ever so slightly back and forth, casting a shadow over me that teetered left and right. Pinkie Pie was just in view a feet away from me. She held a bright happy smile as she stared at me, her sky blue eyes shining under the light. "Now we can have even more fun." She said gleefully.

She bounced off around me. I could hear a squeaking rolling and she came back pushing a small cart covered in assorted 'tools'. Quite a few were covered in something dark and slick. All I could smell was the scent of drying blood around me. "Pinkie, what the fuck are you doing?" I asked nervously.

"Well I was making cupcakes, but I got all of the special ingredient I needed. You're just a bonus." She smiled cheekily.

"What. The fuck. Are you talking about?" I said growing frustrated.

"I'm making cupcakes, duh." She said rolling her eyes. She trotted around me and came back with a bucket of numerous internal organs, chopped into little chunks. Some of them floated in the small pool of blood they were in. "See, all the special ingredient I need."

"Pinkie, where did those come from." I asked worriedly.

"Oh, silly me. I almost forgot." She said trotting back around me. I looked around the room more. I could just barely make out what I saw. The room was decorated for a party. Streamers hung along the ceiling, tables and chairs were set up, balloons were even tied to them. But there was something off about them. The balloons were oddly shaped and the chairs and tables seemed...malformed. There was some kind of centerpiece on the nearest table, but I couldn't figure out what it was.

Pinkie came back wheeling a similar contraption to what I was tied to. My heart sunk at it's sight, my stomach knotting and my head swimming with images of horror. Strapped to the table was a lavender colored mare, her entire abdomen was wide open, picked clean of all it's contents. The cutie marks on her flanks were gone, replaced by the exposed muscle underneath. The skin around her neck had been cut away, her throat ravaged. Her mouth was ajar in a silent scream, even her tongue was removed. Her eyes gone, the dark sockets they had filled was what remained. A spot on her head was rough and slightly jagged, the base of a snapped off horn. Her mane was the only thing that told me who it was, a dark navy with a pink and purple highlight striping through it. This was all that remained of Twilight.

I stared, eyes widened and jaw slack. "Why?" I asked solemnly.

"I ran out of special ingredients and Twilie's number came up." She said looking over her tools.

"I'm gonna kill you." I said quietly. "I'm gonna fucking kill you." I began trembling with rage, the table I was strapped to jittering. My breathing was pained and ragged and my teeth ground against each other tightly.

"Maybe next time you'll learn to say sorry." She smirked.

I snapped to her, blind fury in my eyes. "Sorry? SORRY?! WHEN I'M FUCKING DONE WITH YOU'LL BE THE ONE WHO'S FUCKING SORRY!" I yelled.

"No I won't." She pouted. "Not after I have my fun." She picked up a small pairing knife from the tray with her teeth. "Wet's starwt wit dat potty mouf of yows." She mumbled through it.

"Fuck you!"

"See, bad words make fo bad feelwings." She said closing in, the corners of her mouths risen in a smile. I squirmed and writhed in place, trying to get myself loose. It was no use, she was already on top off me. She stood on her hind legs, leaning in close. Her hooves were on either side of my face, pushing down on my jaw and forcing it open. I shifted my head, turning away. She looked up at me with frustration. "Yow onwy making things harder for yowself."

I moved in a panic doing the only thing I could. I shift my head forward and lunged. My forehead struck her nose hard and she backed off recoiling with a yelp. The knife dropped down, hitting the floor and clanking loudly. She sat in front of me, holding her muzzle in her hooves. A thin red line trickled down between them. "Meanie." She said looking angrily at me.

I moved my tongue around in my mouth, forcing saliva to puddle behind my teeth. I spit at her, a clod of thick clear spittle zipping through the air and striking her in the face. She let out a disgusted whine, wiping it off with a hoof. She picked the knife back up in her teeth and came back. Leaning over me she dug her hoof into my stomach painfully. I lurched forward, my head hanging down as I gagged. She climbed up onto me, digging her hind legs further into my gut. My mouth hung open as drool began to rain down, hanging over my chin. Her hooves held onto my jaw again, keeping it open. She forced the knife into my mouth, the edge cutting into my tongue.

The cold steel stung as I felt it dig into my tongue, moving back in forth in a sawing motion. I groaned in agony as the deed was done. All that remained was a floppy stump of my tasting tool. Blood and spit pooled in my mouth, leaking out the corner. She climbed down, my squishy pink tongue being held between her hooves. "I don't need anymore." She said tossing it in a waste bin. "Besides, I don't want my cupcakes to taste bitter."

I tried to speak, only managing a pain filled mumble without my tongue.

She dropped the blood covered knife onto the cart with the others "Too bad you don't have a cutie mark." She sighed "Oh well. I didn't even want to add you to the others anyway." She walked back over to me smiling softly. her hoof stretched out and she placed it on my chin, tiling my head. "I think I might keep your eyes. I've never seem them like this before, they kinda remind me of when I was a little Pinkie winky." She giggled. "Don't worry, that's the last part. Besides, I want you to see everything."

I coughed and gurgled, blood dripping from my mouth.

"Y'know, normally I'd give you something to keep you awake and numb you out, but you're a big guy. You'll be fine without it." She said picking up a scalpel. She happily trotted back to me, placing her hooves on either side of my stomach. "Now wet's see wat yow made ov." She giggled as the tip punctured below the left side, just below my ribcage. She moved her head slowly to the right, the cold steel burned as it sliced through the skin and muscle of my abdomen. I let out another long groan of agony as it stung at the nerve endings. I coughed and drooled the combination of fluids from my mouth and onto my chest.

She moved a few inches lower, just above my groin. The scalpel plunged back in, piercing through the skin and sliding back across with just as much ease. My eyes shut in pain as I was filleted alive, my head throbbed and my heart pounded in unison. I began to feel sick as my stomach was filled with the mixture of blood and spittle dripping down my throat. Both cuts were connected by a long cut straight down the middle, from my chest to my groin. She had a pleased grin behind the scalpel. She hopped down and set it down on cart.

"Oh, a package? For me? Oh goodie!" She said trotting back. "I wonder what Derpy brought me?" She giggled placing her hooves on the flaps of skin she made, pulling them up and apart like a box. "Oooh! look at all this fun stuff!" She exclaimed.

I stared down at my own innards. They seemed to move as I moved. My actual stomach quivered and gave off a low gurgle as I felt sick from the blood inside it. Blood flowed out into the pile of organs inside me, pooling around them. Near the top left corner there was a heavy pulsating beat that jiggled the flesh around it.

"Where to start." She said holding a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. She spotted the jiggling movement and smiled brightly. "I kinda wanted to keep this up, but you're a little boring anyway. Twilight was way more fun. She lasted for a bit too. She kept begging and pleading for me to stop. But I couldn't do that now, could I?"

I groaned painfully at the memory. She was still there, right in front of me. I felt cold, it burned as the air touched my insides, but I felt cold. I just wanted this to be over. I just wanted to see Twilight again. See her alive.

Pinkie gained a look of awe and epiphany as she realized. Oh yeah, I totally forgot!" She said going back to the cart. "You still have her name on you. It's no cutie mark, but it'll do." She reached into the bucket beside the cart and took a red chunk of something, popping it into her mouth. "She's really good y'know. Sweet with a tangy finish." She said chewing. "I'd offer you some, but I know you'd just spit it out." She swallowed and picked the scalpel back up in her teeth, making her way back over to me.

She cut into my foreleg, slicing from my knee to my hoof between the straps. I groaned again as the warming steel sliced through the muscle of my foreleg. She cut around the imagery, connecting four lines around it in a rectangle. Once the deed was done she scraped and peeled the edge of the skin back making a start to what she about to do. After taking a firm grasp on the loosened skin, she pulled back, the skin slowly peeling away from the muscle. I screamed out, writhing in agony. I had the only thing I cared about taken away twice.

I winced as the rest of it separated and she was triumphantly waving it in the air around her hoof. I panted and moaned as the last happy image of her phased through my mind. All I could do was look at the carcass of her that remained. A warm tear rolled down my cheek as my head fuzzied. My sight faded to a black and I passed out.

I was snapped back to attention as an excruciating spark shot through my head. I screamed out again, my eyes shut tight. I looked around myself again in panic. It hurt intensely to breath. My chest was held open by some kind of adjusted crank, it's contents on display. "Just want to make sure you got to see this. All I really wanted with you was a little heart to heart." She laughed. Between her pink hooves, connected by all the veins and arteries, was my still beating heart.

Chapter 36: A fading line

My eyes shot open, searching the room for any remnants of the dream. Sweat ran profusely down my forehead, soaking into the pillow. My breathing was panicked and labored. My hooves shot up to my face feeling along it. There was something tight around my neck and I yanked at it. The scarf slid out from around my neck and I tossed it aside. I stuck out my tongue to check it was still there and threw the covers off myself, staring at my midsection. Everything was normal and...intact. Twilight was still asleep next to me, unconsciously cuddling me.

My heart beat achingly inside my chest. I held a hoof over it, trying to calm myself. My breaths settled and my heart's beats lessened in frequency. I looked down to Twilight as she breathed quietly into my shoulder. I gently slipped out from her and eased off the bed, making my way quietly down the stairs and into the bathroom. I flipped the light switch and pulled the door behind myself, stepping up to the sink. I turned the right handle letting a stream of cold water pour out into the bowl of the sink. I dipped my hooves into it the bowl, scooping out water and splashing it onto my face.

I rubbed it into my face, trying my hardest to forget it. "Why did I let myself sleep? Why did I fucking let myself sleep?" I stopped rubbing my face and stared at the mirror. My hooves planted themselves on either side of the white porcelain sink as I leaned close to the mirror. I stared into my own slate colored eyes, the blood vessels through out the sclera were swollen and bright red. My eyes were blood shoot to be put simply.

"Aww, bad dream?" Bleak asked mockingly from behind me.

I only looked at him through the mirror, giving a look of pure disdain. "Leave. Me. Alone."

"Why? I'm starting to sense that you may not like me." He smirked.

"Why do you have to do shit like this?" I asked staring at myself in the mirror. "Why the fuck do you have to make life a living hell for me."

He shrugged in response. "It's fun."

"I hate you so much. I want to to end you so badly." I said as my brow furrowed.

"Why don't you just learn?" He asked. "Face it, we're the exact same person. One day, eventually, I will break you. I will make you snap and you'll go back to the way you were. The same brutal and psychotic mother fucker you've always been. Deal with it." With that, he faded.

I stared hatefully at myself in the mirror, my eye twitching. I punched at the mirror, shards scattered and dropped down to the tiled floor. I stood there with my hoof still inside the gap I made, the cracked remnants of the mirror showing multiple reflections. Blood dripped down into the sink as I stood in place, trembling with rage. I hated him. I hated being him. All I could feel was hatred for everything I was. I wasn't a good guy, I wasn't a kind and honest person. I was the worst kind of person. I was a monster. "Fuck."

Kian snapped from his dream as he heard the sound of shattering glass. Pinkie was already looking in the direction of the door. "Did you hear it too?" She asked nervously.

"Yeah." He said looking over to her.

"What should we do?" She asked.

"I'll go check it out, it's probably just Spike or Twilight." He said sliding off the bed and onto his hooves.

He pushed open his door and closed it behind himself, making sure no one would see Pinkie. The door beside his was cracked open, light pouring through it. He sneak over to it, peaking through the sliver. Inside he saw his brother hoof deep in the bathroom, blood dripping from his fetlocks. He could see him scowling at himself in the mirror. His eyes were blood shot from stress, he was obviously upset about something but he didn't know what. He could only take a guess as to why his brother would be so upset.

Twilight maybe? She could of said something to him. He'd seen how his brother hid his feeling around her. He didn't want his brother to become angry and leave. From what he'd heard that what their dad did and why he took him. He'd probably make him leave as well. He wanted to stay here with everyone, he actually liked it here. or maybe he was angry at himself. He could have been the one to say something he shouldn't have. Who really knew? He definitely didn't want there to be some kind of rip between his brother and his girlfriend. Their family had already been through one mishap out of that.

There were a few soft 'clops' from behind and he looked over his shoulder to see Twilight walking down the stairs yawning.

"Oh hi, Kian. Finally got home?" She asked stretching.

He held a hoof up to his mouth, motioning for her to come over. She hummed curiously and walked over to him. He went back to peaking through the opening in the doorway. His brother was now looking at the series of cut around his right hoof. They looked deep, dark crimson still dripped from the them profusely. Twilight peaked through over Kian, watching him. She held A hoof over her mouth at the sight of all the blood and the shattered mirror. Why would he do that? Why would he hurt himself like that?

She could only let her imagination take care of that. They watched as he turned the sink on, the thick redness that had begun to pool in it run down the drain. He rinsed off the excess, grabbing the small towel on the rack beside him. He wrapped it around his right hoof tightly, tying the ends into a knot with his teeth. Looking over his handy work with at least meager satisfaction he went about cleaning up the fragments of the mirror that littered the floor of the bathroom. His horn became surrounded by a glowing blue aura along with the pieces. They floated up off the ground and into a small trash bin nearby. A few shattered even further as they hit the bin with loud clacking snaps.

He sat down in front of the sink, watching the last of his crimson colored essence do exactly what it always did. Go down the drain.

Chapter 37: Down the drain

One Year Ago..

I stood before a disgusting sink covered in filth, leaning over it, surrounded by a grungy old bathroom. Knife in hand, I grit my teeth and dug into the already open hole in my shoulder. It stung fiercely, the cold steel burning as it further opened the swollen orifice. I gave out a low groan of pain as the blood began to pour out, the already blood caked wound re-opening. I twisted it as it went deeper into my shoulder, the cause having just stopped before reaching bone. I hit something hard with a soft clink and shut my eyes. I knew this was gonna hurt. The knife's edge slid between the piece of metal and flesh, working it's way down. I pulled down on the handle, the knife turning and slowly pulling out, dragging something along. With a sickening pop the piece of lead was extracted, falling down into the small puddle of blood forming in the sink with a loud clink.

I dropped the knife in with it, reaching for the bottle of vodka sitting on the disgusting toilet. I grabbed the bottle, opening it with my teeth and pouring the contents onto my shoulder. The sting was worse than any other antiseptic I knew. The clear alcohol rinsed out the hole and dripped into the sink. I placed the spout of the bottle to my lips, lifting it directly up and swallowing mouthfuls of it. I sat down the toilet, setting the bottle down on the floor and reached for knife in the sink. My other hand dug into my pocket, pulling out my lighter. I flicked off the lid and ran my thumb along the wheel, holding down the button. Sparks flew, but no flame. I tried it again and had similar results. Growing irritated, I gave it one more go. I pressed my thumb down on the button and turning the wheel. Sparks flew and flame of orange and yellow rose from it.

I smirked and held the knife over the flame warming it. You had to have been shot. That was what I needed. That was the one thing left I'd needed to do before I could take President. The last one retired from the group, having gotten too old to even ride anymore. I guess you could say I was practically asking for it when I did take the bullet. I took it like a man too. With a big shit eating grin on my face. In no time at all the knife was hot, smoke rising from it and a slight red tinge to it. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, bracing for the worst of it. I pressed the knife down against the bullet hole, the hot metal burning at the skin and flesh, closing the wound. I gave a scream of agony as I pressed it down harder. The smell of burning skin and dried blood scattered the room. Enough to make someone vomit. Nothing really phased me anymore though.

I peeled the knife away from the freshly burned injury, another one of my some-what twisted smiles of satisfaction. I tossed the knife back into the sink, turning it on. Pocketing my lighter, I held out my hand to rinse off the blood on it. I wiped my wet hand through my thick mohawk, sleeking it back. I watched as the blood inside the grungy sink ran down the drain with a low gurgle. I grabbed the bottle off the floor, taking another sip. I held it in one hand as I grabbed my jacket from the door handle, slipping my arm through a sleeve. I swapped hands and slipped through the other comfortably. I looked down to my left shoulder, now having something else to be proud of aside from my white wing.

I pushed through the door back into the main room of the club house. A roar of cheers and howls to be found.

I watched the last of it go down, remembering the day that I used to think made me who I was. The day that gave me a new lease on what I could do. I was free of restriction and weakness. I was at the top of the pinnacle. I was... I was... Nothing. Same as I was now. Just another festering pile of shit in the world. Probably the only one in this world. It made me feel even more of the monster I was. I sighed and turned around pushing through the door. To my surprise, on the other side was Kian and Twilight. I realized that I hadn't actually closed the door completely and that they had just seen me let out my anger on that mirror. Twilight held a worried expression while Kian stared blankly.

I hung my head low. "I guess Bleak was right. I'll just go back to being like him." I felt shameful for once in my life. I couldn't even look her in the eye. I just walked past them into the living room. I slumped down, sitting on the couch like a human. I sat there, oblivious to everything. I felt empty, hollow almost. All I wanted was to live normal, but the problem with that is: I can't. I just plain can't. It's a paradox. I want to be something. But what I am keeps me from being it. That just goes to show you how shit life can be.

Twilight sat down beside me, holding onto my foreleg. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing's wrong, Twi." I sighed. "What could possibly be wrong?"

"Don't expect me to believe that was an accident." She said sternly.

"It's nothing for you to worry about." I groaned.

"Nothing to worry about? You hurt yourself. Why shouldn't I worry?" She asked, growing more upset.

"Because it's nothing to do with you and it's my own fault, that's why!" I snapped.

She looked away sadly. That was now the second time today I'd felt horrible about myself. I just wanted to be snuffed out on the spot.

"We can't all just push our problems away." She said softly. "There's a point when we have to just end it. When we have to step up and fix them."

Chapter 38: Thinking things over

I wished it was that easily done. How do I just fix that asshole? If I could, I would. But I can't, which is the really annoying aspect of it. I Can't actually fix it or stop doing something to make it go away. I have to just pull through all of it. But I can't tell her that. Sorry, I can't fix my problems. I don't know how I can make the guy who wants me to bad things go away. She'd think I was crazy or something. Well I guess I am crazy then if that's what's happening.

"Let's just not worry about this any more." I suggested.

"You think I'm gonna let you off like that?" She said growing more upset. "Why did you do that in there?" She asked.

I thought fast to something earlier. "Those two idiots are fucking annoying." I sighed, hoping it would.

She exhaled a few inaudible words and leaned against me. "Fine, I guess I'll take that."

I breathed some form of a sigh of relief. I was fifty-fifty on whether or not that would work.

"You really broke the mirror because you were mad at them?" She asked, no longer upset but more irritated.

"Yeah." I answered leaning back. "I said it was my fault. I broke the mirror because I got mad. Simple."

"Well we better replace it sometime soon." She sighed lying down next to me.

"Sorry." I said resting my left hoof on her back.

"It's fine. I don't really care, I just don't want to see you get hurt." She said softly.

"Twi, I've been hurt more than just a little through out my life. I've taken just about everything basic beside breaking bones and some ridiculous shit. This," I said raising my right hoof. "is nothing."

"Let me see that." She said. I moved my right hoof over to her. The reddened towel around it became surrounded by a purple glow and untied itself. She looked along the cuts, checking them over. Well, they're not that bad." She said tilting her head. "You did a decent enough job of keeping it under wraps."

"Yeah, and if you'd mind, I's like to wrap it back up." I said wincing at the sting of fresh blood seeping from the wounds.

"Oh, sorry." She said smiling sheepishly.

It wrapped back around and I tied it into a knot with my teeth again, pulling it tight. "Well, good as new again."

"Promise me you'll try not to take it out on the library next time." She said smiling up to me.

I moved to the side, sliding down to lie next to her. "What should I take my anger out on?" I asked.

"I don't know. What you think would work?" She asked. "A pillow or something."

"C'mon. I think there's much better ways of blowing off steam." I said smirking.

She rolled her eyes and leaned against me comfortably.

"So what do we do now?" I asked. "We don't exactly have all the luxuries of life I had."

"Well, we have other things now." She said positively.

"What?"

"Magic." I could out of the corner of my eye the smile on her face.

Kian was staring blankly at me as I walked past him, not even saying a word. He looked back to Twilight, sharing a worried glance. "You go talk to him. He'll listen to you better." He said quietly.

She nodded, walking after his older brother. Kian turned around, opening his door quickly and slipping back in. Pinkie was still lying there, looking up to him nervously. "What happened?" She asked.

"My brother's angry." He sighed, climbing up onto the bed.

"Oh." She looked down sadly. "That's not fun for anypony, is it?"

"No," He said lying down next to her. "especially not him."

"What did he do?" She asked.

"Broke the bathroom mirror. Cut himself."

"Is he always like this?" She asked.

"No. He's just got his own issues. We all do." He said staring at the ceiling.

"Why is he like that?" She asked curiously.

"I don't know. He hasn't exactly been given the greatest in life. Nobody's really tried to help him before."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe he wouldn't let them. Maybe they didn't want to. He's not the most trusting of anyone. But he's warming to it." He said thinking it over. "When I was little, really little. My father left my mother and took him. He was only eight. For...nine years he lived out in the wilderness with him. Trying to toughen his boy up. I don't think he ever liked me. I don't even know if he remembers me." He said sadly.

She laid her head down on his shoulder, trying to comfort him.

"I think maybe that's why he's like this. Maybe that's why I'm like I am. He didn't have a mother, so he took to the world like it hated him. He doesn't really let people come close to him. I didn't have a father, so I took to the world feeling like it loved me. No real balance. I guess that's why we're so different." He sighed. "Life can be easy or hard on you for no good reason."

"That's sound terrible."

"Y'know, for a while, I got my ass beat because I was soft. And my brother told me how he'd gotten his own ass beat a few times because he was too hard. I wonder what it would be like if we were still a family. Things never happened and we stayed together. Maybe we'd find that perfect mix." He shrugged. "It's only a guess."

"Well I'm glad you are who you are." She said placing a peck on his cheek. "So when did you meet him after that?"

"About two weeks ago."

"Really?" She asked with a surprised look.

"Yeah. I never even knew I had a brother less then two weeks ago. And here I am on some adventure with him." He said waving his hoof around in the air.

"What kind of adventure are you on? Ooh, a quest?" She asked excitedly.

"I honestly have no idea." He sighed.

Chapter 39: Can a pony change it's coat?

I sat there in the middle of the living room with Twilight, she was at least a few away reading an open book on the floor. "Let's see, if this spell works, your coat should change color." She said looking up from the book.

"Alright, let's take a crack at it." I said, taking a deep breath and bracing myself.

She read over the page one more time. "Let's hope for the best." She said smiling confidently. Her horn glowed an ethereal purple. In a small spark a puff of light came off of me.

I looked myself over to see that nothing had changed. I looked back up to Twilight confusedly. She held a held a hoof up to her mouth curiously, looking back over the page. In a small cough like puff, all the fur over me grew out in an enormous puffball. We shared a wide-eyed glance before I dropped to the floor and rolled around on it roughly.

"What are you doing?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Fuck it itches!" I yelled as I dragged my back along the wood floor.

Spike came down the stairs, rubbing his eyes. "What's with all the racket?" He asked irritated.

He walked into the living to see me rolling along the floor, stopping to rub up again walls and furniture. "Itch-itch-itch-itch-itch!" I spotted Spike and his glorious dragon claws. "Spike, scratch my back now!"

"What? Why?!" He asked confusedly.

"Cause it itches. Now scratch, motherfucker!" I yelled turning my back to him.

"Twilight!" Spike yelled.

"Just scratch for a minute, Spike." She sighed. "You keep him down like that while I figure out a way to reverse it."

"Fine." He groaned.

I sat down beside him, fidgeting in place as the irritation of the heavy fur seared away at my concentration. He slowly extended his scaly hand, pushing through the bush of fur to my back. His scaled fingers touched down to to skin scratched up and down along my back. "Fuck, that's nice." I sighed. I gave satisfied coos as the irritation of it melted away. "A little higher." His scratches moved up, centering at my mid-upper back. "Higher." His scratches went up between my shoulder blades. "Oh yeah, that's the spot. Right there." I groaned. My right leg twitched and kicked out unconsciously. "So fucking good!" My leg moved with a mind of it's own, kicking out in a sweeping motion.

Pinkie let out a small cough, covering her mouth with a hoof. "Sorry, kinda thirsty." She said smiling. There was another disembodied 'squee'.

Kian looked around startled by it, trying to figure out where that came from. "Seriously, what the hell?" She shrugged, not really knowing how to answer that. He sighed and climbed down off the bed. "I'll grab you a glass of water."

"Thanks."

He walked toward the door, stopping when he heard muffled voices on the other side. He stepped up to the door, leaning close and pressing his ear to it. The voices on the other side became clearer, err, a voice. "Holy shit, this feels awesome. C'mon, just a little more... keep going. Oh fuck that's nice." It was his brother's voice

He pulled his ear away from the door, grimacing. Whatever was going on the other side...well, he didn't really want to think about that. Giving a silent prayer that it wouldn't be what he thought it would, he slowly opened the door, peaking out. Across the main library was a large grey puffball of fur. Spike was scratching it with an aggravated expression across his face. Twilight was searching through a book, looking for something. Whatever the grey mass of fur was, it was big, and puffy, and really liked being pet. It's leg kicked out wildly like a dog.

He slipped out from behind the door, closing it behind himself. He walked through the library and into the kitchen, opening the cupboards above the sink. He grabbing a glass with his teeth and set it down in the sink, turning on the tap. The clear water flowed out filling the glass. Before it could reach the brim he stopped it, turning the tap off. Now was the hard part. He leaned down into the sink, vicing his teeth around the lip of the glass and easing it up. The water moved against his movement, sloshing around in the glass.

Walking incredibly slowly, he carried the glass out into the main library, making way back to his room. The giant puffball of grey was still happily being scratched by Spike in the living room. The head of the large ball of fluff looked over to him. "Wassup bro?"

Kian's jaw dropped, which wasn't the only thing either. The glass plummeted from his mouth toward the wooden floor with growing speed. Before it could hit the floor it was grasped by a purple glow, floating back up to him. He stared curiously at it, surprised by it's swiftness. He looked over to see Twilight, the same purple glow around her horn. She smiled a special kind of smile. The kind of smile a mother has to her children. One that she would wear when some sort of lesson was learned by the child. One that showed care.

He breathed some form of a sigh of relief, taking it back into his teeth. He walked the rest of the way back to his door, easing it open just enough and slipping back through. He closed the door and set the glass of water down on the nightstand. He sat there at the side of the bed, lying his head on it and sighing. Pinkie took the glass from the table, holding it between her hooves. She lifted it up to her lips, tilting her head back and drinking down it contents in a few long swallows. She emptied the glass, finishing it with a satisfied "ahhh.". Kian climbed back up onto the bed, lying down next to Pinkie. "Wanna go again?" She asked.

Chapter 40: Fantasizing

We shared a quick smiling glance toward each other, mine a little more...unstable, being I was caught between relief and discomfort constantly. She was really warming up to becoming a parental figure. Mind you she'd taken such a position with Spike for years, but in many ways that would be seen in more of a younger brother and older sister sort of position. Well, it didn't really matter how you looked at that, she was definitely taking to it with ease.

Another quick glance to her book and another smile crossed her, this one less nurturing and more humorous. "I think I found our problem." She said snickering. "I misread the formatting of it. I had accidentally cast a softer coat spell." She said letting out a giggle.

"Softer coat?" I asked confusedly. "Are you kidding me? I look like a giant fucking cotton ball." My tail twitched in discomfort. "And I'm not soft, I'm itchy as fuck!"

"Actually, you do feel pretty soft." Spike said scratching away.

"Okay, Spike, life lesson time. When you're in the middle of any form of physical contact with another guy, do not say 'you feel soft'." I said grimacing. "That sounds wrong in all context."

"Whatever." He said rolling his eyes.

"So can you fix this?" I asked.

"Well...in theory I could remove the fluff by casting the color change spell. The softer coat spell was meant to be used shortly before trimming down ones coat. But using the color change spell should solve the problem a lot less, err, messily." She said smiling.

"Gotta give it a shot."

"Can you hurry it up." Spike groaned. "I feel like my arm's about to fall off."

An ethereal purple glow surrounded her horn. I was hit by another sparkling puff. In another cough like puff the hair receded, what was once grey was now a solid white, except for my tattooing, which was still it's permanent blackish-grey. Spike stopped scratching, sitting down on the floor and rubbing his now sore arm. My coat did still still retain some puffiness, mostly around my chest and legs which had a downy fluff along them. I ran my hoof along my chest, feeling at the softer fur. It had a smooth silkiness with the grain and a blanket like softness against it.

"So how does it feel?" Twilight asked.

"Like I'm not wearing an old wool sweater." I said still rubbing at my chest.

She gave a curious hum and read over the page once more. "It says that you're supposed to feel a slight tingle due to the change. Strange."

"Not really, being that all I've felt was an annoying tingle for last few minutes. Speaking of which," I said looking over to Spike."Thanks."

"Yeah, yeah." He sighed

Twilight looked to be in deep thought for a moment "Well it should wear off in a few hours, so that's something we won't have to worry about."

I stood up, stretching. I'd figured it was about three or four, plenty of sunlight to burn. "So what do we do now?" I asked.

Twilight shrugged, not really knowing herself. "Walk?" She suggested.

"Alright." I said, walking off into the main library. I went back up the stairs to the bedroom to grab something. The bed was made, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I looked around the room trying to find it. Under the bed, by Spike's basket, by the balcony. No where. I stood in front of the bed again, sweeping the room over.

"Looking for this?" Twilight asked behind me. I turned around to receive kiss across the lips. She leaned against me, standing up on her hind legs to reach me as I leaned back in recoil. Her hooves were planted on my chest, pushing down on the soft puffiness. Her eyes were closed and her muzzle was buried into mine. All the while the scarf she had gripped with her magic wrapped around my neck. I fell back onto the bed, the mattress squeaking and us bouncing a bit from it. She moaned softly into my mouth, sitting on top of me, legs parted and on either side of me. Our mouths parted, noses pressed together. "I lied."

"What?" I asked confusedly.

"I lied about it wearing off. It'll stay as long as I don't change it back. Same as the softer coat." She said looking down to me.

"Okay, what?" I grew more confused.

"The softer coat is reversible, and It was an accident to do that. But the changing color was something that worked in conjunction to it. I kinda fantasized over you having a softer coat, and wondered what it would be like if somepony else were to, umm...take me." She closed her eyes waiting for a response.

"Twilight," I sighed. "just tell me when you want to experiment unconventionally." She opened her eyes to look down to me, the both of us sharing a warm smile. "Hey wait, what happened to Spike?" I asked.

"I think he went off to Rarity's, maybe.Why?"

"Just wanting to be sure he's not here." I sighed.

"Should we worry about Kian hearing us?" She asked worriedly.

"Well he didn't last night, so I think we're in the clear."

"Speaking of which, how did Spike not?" She asked curiously. I looked off without saying a word. Her eyes widened and her face reddened in a blush. "Oh."

"It's fine Twi, quit worrying." I sighed, wrapping my hooves around her.

"Alright." She said, the corners of her mouth rising into a smile. Her hoof rubbed along my chest, feeling the softer fur for herself. "You know, this really is a nice spell."

"Yeah, great if you love the feeling of your skin crawling." I said rolling my eyes.

"Please don't ruin the mood." She said as her eyelids lowered.

"Got it." I said plainly. "So what's up first?"

"How about a game. If you get me to go first, I owe you a favor. If I get you to go first, then you owe me a favor." She suggested.

"And just what would those favors imply?" She tilted her head from side to side giving a 'you know' sort of look. "Alright, game on."

Chapter 41: Game on

Our muzzles pressed back together, holding in a regular kiss. Her hooves rubbed along my chest, feeling the soft, cottony fur of it. My own hooves held onto her sides, rubbing along them. Her own coat felt silky and cool, or maybe it was just from the room. I didn't really know, my mind was somewhere else. My hooves held tightly and and I pulled her up, sliding along me. I split off and her soft nethers rubbed along my lap. "Remember this?"

"Don't think you can-" She was cut off by one of her own moans. "get away with something like-" She was cut short by yet another moan, her pinkening lips rubbing hard against the base of my crotch. "that." The softer fluff of my new coat helped to entice her more than usual, tickling at her sweet spot. Her horn lit up, lighting the area around our faces with it's purplish-pink glow. I felt something grip tightly at my soft spot, slowly sliding out. I yelped loudly at it's vice like grasp around it, a slight tingle at the likely magic hold.

Kian lied there in his bed, head propped up with his forelegs folded behind it. He sat there with a relaxed smirk, his eyes closed. Pinkie's head bobbed much farther below his. Her ear twitched as there was a faint, painful yelp from somewhere. She lifted her head out from between his hind legs with a slick pop, looking around. "Did you hear something?"

"I didn't say stop"

"Sorry," She winced nervously. "I didn't mean to be so rough." The magical glow around her horn faded and the grip around my growing length loosened.

I patted my hoof on her back. "Good pain, Twi. Good pain."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, definitely." I winced.

"Okay." She said nervously as her horn was surrounded by her purplish-pink magic.

I could feel the magical grip take hold of my phallus once more, surrounding it with it's firm hold and slight tingle. I grit my teeth with a pleasured groan and slid Twilight back and forth along myself even faster. She bit her lower as I ground her soft mound against my coat and skin, cooing in joy of it's new feel. I felt something wet drip onto my lap, rubbing into my puffy coat. The fur in the area became more heavy from her juices and stuck down against my skin wetly. She was definitely liking this a lot. For me, well..."Oh fuck, that's nice." I groaned.

The magical grip had begun making a pumping motion along it as I steadily unsheathed. "You really-" She was stopped by herself with a sharp gasp. "like that, huh?"

I nodded vigorously, my eyes shut tight.

"Thank Rarity, that book was mostly Unicorn oriented anyway."

"I will."

Twilight slid along my lap much more slickly now that I'd managed something from her. Her sweet spot rubbed hard against me, eliciting a mixture of cute sounds. Moans, gasps, squeaks, etcetera. The magical hold around my shaft was definitely giving similar results for me as well. Not-so-mini mercenary me was standing proudly at attention with a small droplet of pre leaking out to top it off. He twitched and quivered under her hold, throbbing after every pump. If she could feel it through the magic's grip, she'd know just how hard my heart was racing. On a scale of one to ten, this was a definite "boing!".

I started letting primal instinct take control. I stopped sliding her along my lap and held tightly, making a quick turn to the side. Twilight and I rolled over together, switching spots. The glow around her horn ended and her look of pure pleasure shifted to surprise and something a little more amorous. The look she gave me sent a strange memory to the forward of my mind.

I sat at my computer one day, roughly half a year ago. It was later into the night and I sat there on the still intact computer chair, browsing over FIMfiction. I had just recently found out about the show and didn't really feel all that bothered about liking it. I thought I was comfortable enough with my masculinity to like something for girls. Hell, the shit I'd done just earlier that day deserved some sort of dosage of innocence. What could be more innocent than a bunch of candy colored ponies?

Though, I was also pretty new to the site as well. It was fan fiction, something I was also new to. Of the few stories I'd seen, they were all pretty cutesy and retained that childish fun the show did. Something new caught my eye though. In the latest stories to be published, one had a tag that I'd yet to see. A small purple tag with white font, the word "sex" on it. this took me aback a little. The thought of colorful ponies fucking each other seemed perverted, and creepy. But who was I to judge? Another thing that threw me was the image. Most of the time I'd see small cutesy fan art and screenshots from the show, or even some pretty elaborate photo-shops of funny or cute things. But this, it was something different.

The picture was of a lavender Unicorn, a strange smile across her face. It didn't seem like fan art, being the same design and everything, and definitely didn't look like anything that would have been in the show. The picture was photo-shopped for sure. Her smile had something a little familiar to it, it seemed strange to see it, it was a suggestive sort of smile. Bedroom eyes, a coy smirk, a dark navy mane that was highlighted with pink and purple that's bang seemed to hang down just perfectly. I wasn't all that familiar with the characters having only seen just a few episodes.

Most of the time I thought the characters in some the stories were made up and not even in the show, so I had no idea who it was at the time. I had to admit, the picture did help to peak my curiosity. So, I clicked on the story and read it. Though the whole of it didn't make me close to being moist, the story did give me the feeling that my new interest might be shared with a few, interesting, people.

By the look she gave me, and from some of the things I had read, if any had some kind of stone-cold fact to them, I would have in my hands, err, hooves, possibly the kinkiest girlfriend imaginable. I was a little torn at the thought. She seemed so sweet and normal all the time, it felt hard to believe the possibility. Although, when I thought about all the stuff we'd done... It just seemed all too real for comfort. I couldn't decide whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing in whole of it. Maybe I could get something interesting in the long run? She was pretty much up for anything, and there was stuff that I had thought about, but never really imagined doing.

The concept of her being on her hands and knees was pretty much perpetual.

When I'd finally gotten back to my previous mindset, my rear was up into the open air and my length was just outside the entrance to her moist slit. I'd realized I'd been just waiting there, not moving or anything, just lingering above her for a whole sixty seconds. Her purple eyes looked between mine and the large oncoming object. I'd just been staring her in the eyes, breathing slowly. Her cheeks were a flushed pink and she continued looking between me and my mast, breathing heavily in anticipation. I could see just a little bit of sweat along her face.

I still throbbed and twitched with all desire and intent I'd had. I moved on, the flat head of my member pressing against her lips. She had a quick intake of breath, her chest rising up a little. I pressed harder, breaching her tight entrance with a soft gasp from her. My length began slowly, but steadily, easing in. I'd gotten a good amount of help from all the natural lube I'd worked out of her. Her head moved back, resting it on the bed. I continued sliding forward into her, inches slowly disappearing. I could see that her eyes were closed, her mouth slightly ajar as she took it all in. She gave off a soft moan as the mass entered her. I was almost all the way in before I'd hit some kind of wall inside her, unable to go any further.

I had a whole 'nother two and a half inches left, but couldn't get anything else in. Every time I tried Twilight made some kind of whimpering moan, part pain, part pleasure. I guessed that was it and stopped trying, moving on with things. I pulled back, sliding out. My brown shaft now with a glisten as it was coated with her juices. My member slid half way out, Twilight giving a relieved sigh as she was vacated. I pushed back in, making her gasp as the space was refilled. She was obviously trying her hardest to stay relaxed and drive this out. The usual clenching hold wasn't present to the tightness of her canal.

"Alright, A-game time."

I pumped my hips to and fro, sliding in and out of her mound with growing speed. Twilight eyes were still closed and one of her hooves rested on her chest, a relaxed smile on her face. It almost looked like she was asleep, if it weren't for the pleasured hum she was making. So I kept up the thrusts, making sure she was gonna crack first. The mattress under us made a few quiet pops and squeaks as I worked, but I could just hear them. I rut harder, Twilight's waist had begun rising and descending in sync of every thrust, lifting up as I entered, and lowering as I exited.

I could hear a few soft squeaks and whimpers from her, but not many. I further heightened my pace, going in fast and hard. She bit down on her lower lip again, holding out and keeping cool. I decided to try to take it up another notch. Both of her hind legs were spread apart and on either side of me, open. My hooves spent pretty much the entire time propping me up, planted on either side of her. They moved closer toward her, holding onto her sides. My hooves smoothly ran down along her sides and up under her hind leg, lifting them up. She gave a curious hum and her eyes opened up just enough to see what was going on.

I lifted her legs against me, her hooves almost to my shoulders. Both my hooves held onto her flanks, each one on the large pink star on in the middle. I thrusted hard, my hips slamming into her haunches and going even deeper. Her mouth hung open in a a pain and ecstasy filled yelp.

"To, eh...rough?" I grunted in between pumps.

"N-No, I...Good-good pain...good pain."

I pumped and rut as hard as physically possibly without breaking something. There was only an inch to spare that hadn't gotten so in. Though that didn't stop it from being drenched in her fluids as they trickled out around my member. Twi gasped and moaned loudly, bobbing up and down with each pump.

I gritted my teeth, finding it hard to hold out for much longer. "Just...cum...dammit."

She was still holding on by the skin of her teeth. I wasn't so far off myself. I decided it was time for an act of desperation. I My hooves moved up to about waist height, holding on for dear life. I turned, rolling with her. The position shifted, this time Twi was on top. She was held down by her own weight, the last inch vanishing into her warm channel. She nearly screamed, a loud moan in place. Her hind legs quivered in pain and pleasure as she slumped down onto me. My hooves held onto her marks again as I lifted her rear up, my length slipping out just for me to let go and her rump to slide right back onto it.

Her muzzle was buried into my shoulder, her moan muffled by both my puffy coat and scarf. I lifted and dropped back down into place again and again. I was so close, on the edge, wall about to break, shit about to hit the fan. I had to win, I had to! My hips thrusted up when she came down and wound back when I lifted her up. Each motion working against the other perfectly. I couldn't take it anymore. In one final thrust, I lifted her up and wound back, letting her go and slimming my hips into her, going base deep in.

My shaft twitched and quivered inside her, a hot wave of seed releasing from the end. I filed her to the brim and then some, white beginning to ooze out from around my member. Twilight lift her head out from my shoulder, her ruffled mane hanging down over her face. She moved in, our muzzles pressing back together and splitting off in a quick kiss. She smiled down to me weakly, the both of us panting in exhaustion. "I win."

I leaned my head back, resting it on the mattress. I stared up the ceiling, beyond tired. I said the one word I'd managed to. "Fuck."

She leaned in close again, our noses pressing against each other. Her rump lifted and eased back down, my softening member perking back up as she gripped it tightly, her slick walls hugging warmly. She did what I had done for her, lifting up and sliding back down onto it. She bit her lower lip, using the last of her strength. She pressed her muzzle back to mine, holding the kiss. In about five or six pumps I felt another thick liquid run down, mixing with my own. She split off as she finished, lifting off me and rolling off.

We lied there next to each other, breathing heavily and covered in sweat. I couldn't even smell our musk anymore after only a few weeks. We turned to look at each other with a shared smile. We moved what little distance was made to each other and held tightly in an after glow snuggle. She fell asleep, nuzzling my neck happily, now having a makeshift pillow of my coat along with my scarf. My face was in her mane, breathing deeply and taking in her scent.

My head drifted off as I felt at peace for another brief moment.

Chapter 42: Lovable yandere(Kian)

Pinkie's head bobbed up and down between Kian's hind leg, her cotton candy mane bouncing around as she moved. There was a small chorus of slurps and sucks mixed with pleasured groans and breathy sighs. This was one of the most heavenly experiences for Kian in his life. Not only was fellatio a new and great experience for him, but the best part was that he didn't have to do a thing! Just lie back, relax, and let Pinkie do her thing.

Her nose was to the base of his crotch, spittle dribbling all around her mouth and onto his lap. Her tongue edging along the length of his member. Her teeth gently pressed down onto the skin. He was pretty much putty in her hooves at that point. She'd been at it for a good five minutes, just letting him have a nice time. An idea popped into her pink head that seemed fun enough to ask. She lifted her up from between his legs, his length sliding out from her mouth with a slick pop, a thin trail of saliva still connecting it to her lower lip. "Hey, Kian?"

He opened one his eyes, looking down to her from his comfortable spot. "Yeah?"

"You wanna switch?" She asked with a bright smile.

He opened his other eye, looking down to her nervously. Both his forelegs moved out from behind his head as he propped himself up. "Umm, do what now?"

"We switch silly." She giggled clambering up above him. "I lay up hear," Her hoof rested on his chest as she lied down next to him. "and you go down there," She leaned in close to his face, whispering softly into his ear. "and you do me."

The thought swelled up in his mind. Could he actually do that? Could he actually...use his mouth...down there? "I-I...I don't k-know Pinkie. I'm not to, umm, certain If I could...y'know, uh, do...that."

"Oh, okie-dokie then." She sighed, obviously sad to his reaction.

He felt a pang of guilt or doing that. She really seemed like she wanted him to do it. She just lied there beside him, a sad expression on her face. She propped herself up and moved to the edge of the bed, climbing down. "I haven't heard anypony in a while, I'll be okay. It's dark and I should get home. Mr. and Mrs. Cake are probably worried. Bye, Kian." She pushed open the door to his room, walking out it and closing it behind herself.

He watched as the door quietly swung closed, his head falling back onto his pillow as the handle clicked into place. "Shit."

Not only had he probably upset one of only two friends he had in this technicolor world of ponies, but he also had a still fairly raging stiffy. Nothing he could sleep with, hopefully, so rolled over onto his side trying to relax and hope that his branch will do some self-pruning in the meantime. He nodded off, with both a blue spirit and balls.

His eyes opened slightly, blinding white light burning his eyes and forcing them back closed. He peeked again, his eyes no longer as sensitive but still closing again in recoil. His eyelids opened a third time, feeling finally up for it. His eyes adjusted to the light and color finally existed once more. From what he could see, his face was pressed against some kind of flat surface with a varnished wood grain on it.

He lifted his head up from the surface, face peeling away from it, to see he had been using a desk as sleeping arrangements. A thin trail of spittle hung down his chin from the corner of mouth. He wiped the drool away with his arm, embarrassed that he'd still retained that. Wait...arm?!

He looked down at his arm. Yes! An actual arm! Arm, hand, shoulder, body... with clothes and everything! He felt more ecstatic than ever before. He was Human again...but where was he? He looked down at he desk and around himself to see one of the class rooms at his school. Across the white board, written in red marker was the word "Detention". Everyone else was gone, desks empty and a few seats still pulled out from their spots. Beside his desk was his messenger bag, still in almost perfect condition, par a large yellow stain on it from that one dog at the shelter that had problems controlling his bladder. Nothing like turning in an essay and your teacher reacting. "Why does this smell like piss?!"

He pulled out from the memory, returning to the now. He looked over to the clock near the door, checking the time. Four o'clock, on the dot.

"Crap it's late." He sighed pushing out from behind the desk. He grabbed his bag, slipping his around the single strab and adjusting it. He hurried out the room and into the baron hallway, doors scattered along either side of it. He took a right going down a short ways to reach the stairwell at the end. He flew down it, feet moving perfectly with every step down it. Wasn't the first time he'd done that.

At the bottom of the stairs was the push doorway out into the hallway of the main floor, but, right behind him behind the stairs was his shortcut. A door way out to the grounds that he'd used more than often. He pushed through the door, out into the open air out side. The linoleum floor changing to concrete. He looked around taking in the fresh air and the sight of the green shrubbery and trees. What he hadn't quite remembered was the man leaning against the wall beside the door, arms crossed.

From the face he knew right away it was his older brother, but what was the strangest part of the situation was what he was wearing. A deep red leather jacket that wasn't bulky and loose but instead form fitting. It was worn open, a white shirt with a red color under it. It's sleeves were shorter than a normal jacket, ending an inch or two from his wrist. His left wrist had a weird wristband around it in the design of a St. Andrews flag, but the top and bottom blue sections were instead red. On his right hand was a white and red leather glove. Why he'd need that escaped him.

He wore a pair of dark blue jeans that was worn with scraping along the thighs. Holding them up was a black leather belt with a series of stud-like metal working in a trail with the holes. The buckle was larger than a normal one and was thicker at the end, ending in a point. Connected to the belt was another strap-like belt made of some kind of thick fabric material that hung from above his right leg and wrapped around to connect to the same spot, only behind him. It hung down about halfway down his leg where another one was connected to it.

The second one looped around the underside of his leg where a third and final strap looped back around, hanging down to his knee. Ont his belt, on either side of his waist were two differently shaped but similar red and white devices that were tubular and had red hand guard like pieces on them. Lastly, he wore a pair of white and red sneakers, the legs of his pants hanging down over the ankles.

"Hey, bro. Ready for another try at the girls?"

"Uh, sure." Kian said slowly, looking around. "Am I being punk'd right now."

"The fuck are you talking about?" His brother asked him curiously.

"Nothing, let's just go." He sighed.

"Alright." He said starting off, making a jingling sound that was likely either change or keys. Kian then saw the back of his jacket, black tiger striping along the lower back up to the shoulders where in black was the image of a St. Andrews flag. His jaw went slack at the sight as he followed his brother. "What the fuck?"

"Oh, shit, I almost forgot. Listen bro," His brother said stopping to turn to him. "I got a rank match here," He scratched at the back of his head with a sort of embarrassed look. "and I kinda hoped you wouldn't mind to wait a little bit longer."

"Ranked match? For what? What the hell is going on and what the hell are you wearing?"

"It's a challenger for my current ranking spot. My first actually."

"What the," He held a hand up to his face, palm first, wiping it down his face. "fuck are you talking about?"

"C'mon, Kian, you know I'm ranked in the U.A.A."

Kian face-palmed again. "What the fuck?" He asked, his hand muffling the statement. "Fine, whatever. I guess this can't really get much more weird."

"Thanks bro. It's just over there on the back grounds. You should know the place, the spot with that huge oak."

He did remember the spot. He'd sat under that tree at least once before. He removed his hand from his face. "Alright, give me the run down about what's going on."

"Okay, so I got an e-mail from my agent in the U.A.A. about a challenge match for some local girl who was working her way through the ranks too. Kimmy Howell ring any bells?"

"Howell?" He thought back, trying to remember the classmate. He remembered her from calculus and maybe even biology. She was an average girl, fairly small, blonde, freckles. She kinda one of those goofy girls who said texting speak aloud, like "omg" or "lol". Oddly enough, she always wore school type uniforms, even though they didn't have any. She preppy and was known pretty well as straight A student. She played some kind of instrument too, a flute or something. Kian was one for keeping tabs on people. He may not have been a social butterfly, but he knew about everyone. "Uhh, yeah."

"Well she's got some stones, I'll give her that. I'm number twenty-five and she's nipping my heels man."

"What?" Kian asked confused by both what he'd just heard and the situation he was being involved in.

They rounded the school, going the though the large parking lot on the side to where the sports fields and grounds were. He could see the tree now, someone standing under it, facing the other direction. "You wanna hang back here or come on up with me and watch?"

"I guess I'll follow you up there. Might as well say 'hi'." Kian sighed frustratedly.

They walked on through the asphalt covered parking lot and onto the grassy field, the ground no longer as even, but much less hard under his feet. "So just what's this girls like anyway?" His older brother asked curiously, trying to kill time as they walked over to her.

"Pff, I don't know. She's a local girl, she's one o' those crazies."

His brother nodded philosophically, staring ahead at her. They neared the large tree, Kian deciding to stay back a bit while his brother marched up to the tree. He extended a hand, pressing it against the trunk of the tree and leaning against it. He looked off a bit, probably waiting for her to speak first.

Kimmy looked down at the ground, a soft smile on her face. "Umm...err...Hi" she greeted him with a giggle. "Uh, can I call you 'James the Great'? Er, 'The Red Wolf of the Mitten'? 'Cool Hand Teezy Greasy'?"

Kian's jaw dropped again, finding it impossible to hear what he had. Was she flirting with his older brother? And just was that last nickname supposed to mean?!

She bent over a bit with excited giggles. "Oh, umm... I... I'm sorry. I've always been a fan." She closed her eyes and gently held a hand over her chest.

"What?" He said stepped away from the tree. "A fan? Of me?" He asked pointing a thumb at himself. He chuckled with a self satisfied smile.

She opened her eyes, smiling brightly. "Yes!" She exclaimed as her she waved her bent arms in excitement, her hands clenched into girly fists. "I watched your fight with Charlie, too!"

"Charlie?" Kian wondered to himself. The only Charlie he knew was Charlie McDonald, linebacker for the schools football team. That guy was huge. If his brother had a fight with him, well... He could see his brother winning a fight, even with that guy. His bro could give a punch, even when holding back.

"Ooh! You were hardcore! Sooooo cooool!" She said ecstatically. "Oh no." She said hunching over. His brother leaned in a bit, a worried look on his face. "Oh, I feel really nervous.-- I think I'm gonna puke." She straightened back out and looked over to his brother. "OMG, I bet you hate girls who puke!" And there she was talking like it was through a text message.

He brother started taking a few nervous steps back, raising his hands. "Uhhh, never really thought about it."

She turned completely around to face his brother, making a soft shriek and holding the sides of her face. She turned back away from him. "Don't stare at me! You're staring at me!" Her hands went down from her face to her side, bunching up into girly fists again. "If you get me preggers, promise you won't ditch me, okay?"

Here was the perfect moment for Kian to drop another one. "What the fuck?"

"Anyway, I wrote down all my feeling in a letter." she said taking out a white envelope from her back. She spun back around, holding it out to him and looking down to the ground. "Here, take it!"

She was flirting with him!

"Your, uh, feelings?" His brother asked confusedly. "So this is a love letter?" He said pointing at it.

"Take it! Take it," She said rushing to him, forcing the letter over to him. "or I'll totally die!"

He took the letter in his hand as she backed away, staring intently. "Okay, thanks." He sighed raising the hand with the letter up. He shook his head remorsefully. "I could use a dose of innocence." He held his other hand up to his chest. "That last fight got a little sick, even for me." He said turning to her, throwing his arms up.

She giggled happily, looking away. She finally spotted Kian and waved excitedly, gesturing to his older brother. Kian only shook his head in disbelief. She looked back to his brother, her excited smile fading. "Umm...Aren't you gonna read it?"

"Huh? Read it? Now? Here?"

"Yes! You have to read it out loud, just for lulz!" She said looking back around herself. "I wrote a song dedicated James the Great. So you read, and I'll play it on my flute, 'kay?" She said pulling up the flute from her bag.

His brother's shoulders sagged as he looked at her in disbelief. "You're joking right? Read this, here?" He asked again, holding up the letter.

"Here we go-- get into it!"

She held the tip up to her mouth, playing the special that she'd memorized by heart. His brother opened the envelope, sliding out a folded piece of pink paper. He unfolded it and began reading it aloud.

"To my dearest James the Great." He started, stepping away and beginning to pace. "Hi there, James the Great. I am the girl who loves you the most in the entire world."

"Try telling that to his girlfriend." Kian muttered.

"But in order to prove that I'm your number one fan, I need some kind of evidence. Because no matter how much I insist that I'm your number-one, any other chick or bitch can approach you and say the exact same thing."

"Who the hell does this bitch think she is?" Kian wondered aloud.

"That is why I've decided. That I should become strong! By doing so, I knew that some day I'd be able to get closer to you." His brother sat down a ways between Kian and her, Kimmy still standing near the tree playing and nodded to the sides. "Putting my title as "James the Great's number one fan" on the line, I embarked on this path..."

"This is really freakin' weird."

"And ended up winning the National Student Assassin championship. I really did my best! But you know, in hindsight, it was a cinch. I guess I'm just blessed..."

"Assassin?" Kian asked looking around. "Okay, now I know I'm being punk'd."

"I could master in one day techniques that would take years for others to do! Pretty awesome, right?" Kimmy began stepping away from the tree, walking slowly around his brother while he read. "And then, I got greedy, a new urge, a vision. That just maybe I could win a fight against James the Great. Now my new goal is to behead James the Great, therefore surpassing my hero. Oops, did I actually write that..."

Kian stared at the both of them, flabbergasted not only at what he'd just heard, but at the fact that his older brother still sat there reading nonchalantly.

"It's kind of embarrassing, you know. Well anyways, I've made up my mind. I made an oath. I won't be killed by anyone! I shall defeat James the Great in battle! Only then will James the Great become mine and mine only. Love, James the Great's number one fan, Kimmy Howell."

With that Kimmy finished her song and looked to him smiling.

His brother stood up from his spot on the ground, folding the letter and replacing it in the envelope. "Okay, so much for the dose of innocence." He leaned in close to her. "But you've got the blood lust. I'm sure about that." He said smiling eerily.

"Yeah, I'm legit. And way tougher than I look. So, umm...don't hold back, okay? Because one mistake" Her fingers moved along the flute, a button being pressed. Two long red cylindrical beams extended over a meter from each end of her instrument. "And you're over. This is for real." She giggled.

Kian's eyes widened further than ever before at the sight of it.

His brother back upped, both his hands grabbing the devices at his sides. His hands took hold of the handles, covered by the hand guards. "If you're trying to give me a headache, it's working." He said as he flipped the switches on the inside of them. The right hand one extended a long, flat, red beam that ended in a point and arched over a meter in length. The other was small and not as long or curved but was also a bright red. The flickered and hummed, same as Kimmy's flute's. "Now it's lesson time."

The pair readied, taking fighting stances. Kian couldn't help but gawk at the sight of was about to unfold.

Chapter 43: They never do

My eyes eased open, letting in the dim light. "Well, at least I'm not being blinded." I groaned as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I looked around myself to see that I was sitting in some kind of office chair, it was at least comfortable. In front of me was a large desk with it's fair share of random guff. A cup with a few pens in it, a stapler, a letter opener. The sorts of things you'd expect, all to the left side. But there was definitely a few things that you normally wouldn't. Or at least, one of which you wouldn't.

Across the right side of the desk was a few scattered pieces to...some kind of pistol. A spring, a magazine, a slide, the body, the grip, all of it just disassembled and left there. But there was something I hadn't expected. In the far back corner was a small framed picture. In it was a large man with short chestnut hair and a short trimmed beard, along with a much thin young woman who was chest height to the man. Her hair was long and a dark navy color, with pink and purple highlights striping through the length of it. The man was wearing navy colored military fatigues and was standing at attention with his arm raised in a salute. The woman hugged onto him, the pair smiling toward the camera.

The man and woman in the picture was me and Twilight. The fact that I'd never remembered the picture was something I'd been getting used to. Just another one of those things that was all part of the dreams. Then something else caught me. In the center was a thin manilla folder with a few paper visible inside it. My curiosity got to me. I grabbed the folder from the desk and opened it, beginning read it's contents.

Inside was a small picture of my head-shot paper clipped in the corner. To the right of it was a listing. Name; Mink, James D. Date of birth: May twelfth, Nineteen-eighty-seven. Height: Six-foot-six. Weight: One-hundred-and-ninety pounds. Nationality: Scottish. The list went on about me. I could hardly read the lot of it though, being that the only light was what made it through the blinds of the window. The lights had been turned off, like someone was expecting me to have been sleeping in here.

What else was weird was that I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of black and white Etnies. Not exactly business casual, and I was pretty certain it was only Wednesday, judging from the last time I'd looked at a calender. Things really weren't making much sense, but since when did they ever? I decided to take things cautiously. I grabbed pieces to the pistol, putting back together.

After only about a minute I was pulling the slide into place finishing it. The pistol was a sleek and smooth gunmetal grey with back grips and iron sights. From what I could figure out, it was a Beretta pistol. The M9 if I was correct. Though since it had an under-barrel pictany rail, It was likely the A1 variant. It was upgraded too, sporting a compensator that extended the barrel and small white dots of tritium on the sight posts. Whoever owned this pistol took pretty nice care of it.

I decided to do a little rifling, opening one of the drawers. Inside was exactly what I was looking for. A box of nine-millimeter pistol ammo. I opened the box and took bullets from it, one-by-one pressing them into the magazine with low clicks, nipping at my thumb every time the round snapped into place. I was cut short as the handle to the door clacked. My attention snapped to it as it swung open, for a thin, young woman to enter, turning the lights back on. She was wearing a dark grey sweater and a purple skirt, a happy smile across her face. Her skin was light and her hair was a long, dark navy with pink and purple highlights striping through it.

She looked just like the woman with me in the picture. "Morning sleepyhead." Twilight greeted me. In both of her hands were mugs, thin white steam rising from them. She walked through the few feet from the door to the desk in the small office, setting them down on the desk in front of us. "Well, it's about two in the afternoon, but you get what I mean." She said as she smiled lightheartedly. "I know it's a little hard getting used to the different time zones over hear. I, umm, brought tea."

"Uhh, thanks, Twi. Mind filling me in on just what's going on?"

"Well you're in my office." She said taking a seat in my lap. "Nothing too significant. Oh, I see you put it back together for me." I followed her view back to the pistol I'd set down on the desk, the magazine was still in my hand. She picked it up and took the magazine from my hand, sliding it in and pulling back the slide with a load clack, letting it jump back forward with even greater force and chamber the round. It surprised me that she both knew how to do that and had the strength.

"I guess she's not as frail as I assume."

"You know, I half expected you to send over a book or maybe some pictures from everywhere you visited." She flipped the safety and set it back down on the desk. "But when I got a package in the mail and a letter with that from you, I was a little surprised to get that. I still love it though. Do you still have those pictures I e-mailed you as a thank you?"

"I, uh, I don't really know." I said finding this ever more strange.

"Well, a picture is never as good as the real thing." She finally noticed the folder and that it was wide open. "Doing a little light reading?" She asked with another lighthearted smile.

"I guess so." I was still very much confused at just what she was talking about. What kind of pictures would she even be talking about?

"Everyone's been waiting for you, err, us now. Think we should go?" She asked. Her hand pressed up against my chest and she rested her head on my shoulder. "Or do you want to stay here for a while?"

It'd felt like forever since I'd felt so at peace. It was only a few days ago that we were still humans, and I missed that time so. I never imagined I'd miss it so much. I moved my arm around her, holding onto her. I lifted the up the other and moved her up from my shoulder. My hand gently supported the side of her face as I stared into her eyes. Her hand held onto mine as she smiled happily and looked into mine.

I didn't smile or make some sort of sign that I was happy. I wasn't, because I knew this wasn't real. I knew it was all far from real and hated that. I wanted it to be real so badly it hurt. I felt almost empty, the only solace I had was the knowledge that at least she was really beside me. The moment somehow felt right, but my gut made me feel otherwise. Fuck my gut, if this was my dream then I wanted to try to enjoy it.

She leaned close and our foreheads pressed together. Her eyes were closed and she still smiled, probably believing I was somehow smiling on the inside. I wished it were true. I wished this was over and I could really be there with her. I wished a moment like this would come and last forever. But they never do.

Chapter 44: Introductions

Everything was quiet for the most part. My eyes were fixated on her, unblinking, unable to tear away. That was until I heard some fairly plastic sounding footsteps reach the door. Now standing in the doorway was a blond man, around five-eleven, wearing a light-gray suit with a white shirt and dark blue tie that matched the most of Twilight's hair to a tee. His hair was fairly sleeked back and styled, the front in some strange kind of curving swirl opposite to the rest of it. Along with that he had a small, well trimmed and maintained mustache that was split at the middle of his upper lip.

"Twilight, you still in--aw, now ain't that just sweet." He sighed crossing his arm and leaning against the doorway.

Both me and Twilight had our attentions grabbed, the pair of us looking over to him. Me with a confusedly raised brow and Twilight with her same soft, happy smile.

"Hey, Ray." She greeted.

"So this is that 'big, UK, superman' we need?" Ray asked, leaving his comfortable position. She nodded in reply and looked back to me happily. "Well, everyone's been waiting for you two in Malory's office and the whole place has been buzzing on about him." He said pointing a finger out from under his arm at me. "Damn Pam and her snooping went and put him up in neon."

I couldn't help but look between the two of them, wondering "Um, the fuck?"

"She even stole a copy of his dossier from Malory's desk. Also, heads up big guy, Krieger's been lookin' forward to getting to meet you. Somethin' about one of his experiments. Word of advise, don't try to make friends with him. He's not the best to be with. 'Specially after what happened to the last intern." He trailed off.

This had just become another moment of thirty-one flavors of 'what the fuck?' I didn't know what was more weird, the fact that all this was happening, or the fact that Twi seemed to be un-phased by any of it. I began to stare in a sort of dumbstruck manner at him, somewhat hoping for a full on explanation.

Thought there was none to be had. "Y'all ready, or do you need another minute?"

We faced back to each other, Twi making a quick glance at this Ray man in a manner that I guessed interpenetrated to "What do you think?"

I exhaled a breath, giving up on trying to figure out what's going on and decided to just wing it like usual. "Sure, let's go"

I wrapped an arm around Twi's waist and slid the other under her legs, leaning forward and standing up out f the chair whilst carrying her. I'd only gotten a few steps toward the door before Twilight cleared her throat almost in my ear. "Um, mind putting me down. I am still at work."

"Oh, uh, right" I set her down as carefully possible. She's probably one of the few things I would ever handle with care. "So who's this guy?" I asked looking over to the this so called 'Ray'.

"Ray Gillette." He introduced himself, extending a hand.

Pushing my small amount of remaining caution out of the way, I extended my hand out to meet his. We grasped firmly to each others and shook, a greeting I was a little...rusty at.

I could tell by the way he looked at me: confused and curious.

"Alright then, let's show go." With that, he backed out of the doorway and led us out into what seemed to be the main office area. Most of it seemed empty except for a few cubicles. Quite a few other people were just standing around by a desk, talking. That was until we gained their attention. Three; two women and a man all stood around it like it was some focal point. Well, not really standing, one woman was sitting behind it while the other sat atop the side and the man just stood there beside it.

They all seemed to be looking toward me, which did make sense after what this Ray man had said.

"So, is uh... This who we've been waiting for?" The man asked. He was about the same size as Ray, with hair that was a slick black and gray on the sides, styled similar to Ray's as well. He had large blue brow-line glasses and wore a light-grey suit along with a black tie and red-orange sweater vest. He seemed to have a skittish feel to him and gave off a feeling of almost perpetual dullness. He did what I could only assume as examine me, as if I were some relic. "I wasn't expecting him to be so...casual."

My expression of curiosity turned to that of a more sour one as I scowled at him. "Sorry, not everyone thinks it's okay to look like they just stepped out of the sixties." I quipped.

The woman behind the desk let out a snarky laugh. She was rather plump and had blonde hair that was put up into a bun. "What did you think he was gonna wear? Fatigues and boots?"

The woman sitting atop the desk gave very teen girl "Duh." She was fairly average and had brunette hair that was also in a bun.

"Alright, Union Jack," Ray said taking a step forward. He extended his arm and motioned to the three of them. "This here is Cyril." The aforementioned smart-ass nodded to me. "And this here's Pam," He motioned to the large woman behind the desk.

She threw up a hand and spouted a "Yo" in greeting.

"And, last but not least, Cheryl." Ray finished as he motioned toward the woman sitting atop the desk.

"Carol." She corrected.

"Whatever." Ray walked on, rolling his eyes and ignoring her. "Okay, we killed enough time, let's go see Mallory."

I looked over to Twilight and shrugged, following him.

"Aha!" I heard someone call out from behind us. I turned around, practically spinning on my heels. Hurrying up to us was another man with dark chestnut hair that was completely sleeked back and a short, maintained beard like mine. He was wearing a long, open, white coat with a yellow dress-shirt and brown tie, along with brown slacks and dress shoes. "You're here." He said ecstatically at my sight. He grabbed me by the arm and began leading me in the opposite direction, down a hallway.

I looked back over my shoulder to Twilight confusedly, throwing my free arm up and gesturing to whoever was leading me away. She only shrugged with her hands up, seemingly unable to do anything. I sighed I went with this man down the hallway and into a large white laboratory. He let go of my arm and hurried off, coming back with a large, black vest.

"Here," He said handing it over to me. "put this on."

I looked between him and the vest a few times before sighing. "Fine, whatever. What the worst that could happen?"

I slipped it on over my clothing and he led me up to a small station, setting me up by a foot or two by a wall and walking a distance away. Beside him was a cart with a few assorted things. He began by adorning safety glasses and then headphones. "Ready?!" He called out.

I was growing more confused. Why did I need to wear this vest? Why did he have all that on him? Wait--Ready for what?

"Clear!" He yelled as he picked up a large pistol from the table, aiming down at me and firing.

Almost instantly I was knocked back against the wall without even noticing, my chest feeling like a horse had kicked it. I slammed against it hard, my head taking a good amount of the impact on the wall. I slid down against the wall blacking out.

Everything was strange and foggy as my eyes opened. I could hear the echoing voice of an older woman yelling angrily. "God dammit, Krieger! I said no testing on him!"

Chapter 45: Revertere

"Wakey, wakey," Called out a new and more masculine voice. "Eggs and...whatever the hell you people eat."

I could just barely see as the light dulled and the fog cleared. Almost encompassing me was a motley crew of some of the people I'd met only minutes ago along with a few new faces. Great, more crazy people...

Picking out the newer ones I continued my observations. I could see three different people, a young woman, a man, and a much older woman, in that order from left to right, respectively.

The younger woman seemed to be mix of Caucasian and African American wearing some kind of sweater like dress and black boot heels that came up past her knees. She had hair that was pushed back and had a sleek shine to it and wore hoop earrings. Along with that she had underarm holsters with a pair of what I could only guess were Tec-9's. I already liked her. I then noticed her large and rather man-like hands and began to feel a little uncomfortable. Even less so than having just been shot and winded.

Moving on--Next was the man. He was tall, fairly well built, unlike that other jackass who looked husky, and had a face that didn't look all too far from James Bond. He wore a completely black suit and a black tie, and had a black, sleeked back and to the right, executive type haircut. Black, black, black. Keepin' it simple.

Lastly was the older woman who reminded me just a little bit of my own mother. But my mother was only in her forties and her hair was still the auburn color it had always been. Unlike her, who's hair was gray with a bit of more silver color toward her bangs, and was shoulder length, parted more toward the left side. She wore a periwinkle dress with an incredibly thick white belt around her waist and some kind of blazer-like blouse with elbow length sleeves, and had pearl earrings, a pearl necklace, and a flower shaped broach. The vibe I got off her was completely straight-laced and business. And by vibe I got off her, I meant she looked at me as if I was some dog. That sure made me feel welcome. "Well come on. We don't all day to lay around."

I'd only just noticed how hard my breathing was and how much my chest ached. "Sure wasn't like that last time." I thought worriedly. To my far left I finally saw Twilight as she had a very rocky expression that seemed to be calming at the site of my lack of any real injury, aside from a probably bruised diaphragm. My chest ached like hell. I sat up, coughing and looking around. "Alright, where's that German fucker?"

Almost everyone pointed off to the right to that same lab coated man that had shot me, standing there as if nothing had happened. I made an attempt to push myself up and my chest began to hurt more from the movement. I groaned at the uncomfortable pain in my abdomen and eased back down. "Fuck it." I sighed. I opted to simply extend a middle finger in his direction. It takes forty-six muscles to frown, but only four to flip 'em the bird.

I finally realized I was still wearing the vest he'd put on me along with the sizable dent like hole in it. My eyes widened a little at it's site. Holy shit!

Not finding any reason not to, I slipped my arms back into the vest and lifted it off myself, tossing it to the side. I tried taking a deeper breath, only for sharp pain cut through my chest. I held an arm to it, clutching tightly. My teeth ground hard together as I let out a much more than audible groan. I could see out of the corner of my eye Twilight grow more worried. She knelt down to my side, placing a hand on my should and helping me into a sitting position.

Okay, maybe a bruised rib. I looked back to whatever the hell his name was, glaring intensely.

Once I'd taken another breath my chest ached hard, causing me to couch. Right when I was about to say something too. "When I," I coughed openly toward the floor, "get up, your ass is," I let out another pair of coughs, my chest feeling like absolute hell, "--your ass is grass."

"You better hope he's alright, or you're on the chopping block for this." The older woman said with an even fiercer glare. I noticed a good amount of the group give hard stares at him.

He simply threw his hands up in shrug. "Well at least he's alive. Better than the last intern."

Against my better judgment I had to ask. "Okay, what happened to the last intern?"

Everyone then turned to me with not so happy expressions. "Well," The dark skinned woman started off.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" I asked once the story had been completed. I now sat on a doctor’s examination table, being checked over by the very same man that had caused the injury. Only the newer people I'd been introduced to were present, along with Twilight. The, what I'm fairly certain is half-black, woman with hands like mine was Lana. She gave a lot more of a professional feel than the other yahoo, Archer. Mr. black all over and wished he was double-o-seven. More like double-o-asshole. And then there was Ms. Archer, the woman I was explained to be Archer's mother. Why everyone called him by his last name, I don't know. Maybe it was the reason his first name was Sterling. Great choice Ms. A.

"Nope." Lana said dryly.

"And you still keep this asshole around?" I looked back over to Twilight who was sitting next to me on the table to comfort me. "You really need to find a different job."

She rolled her eyes with a soft smile, obviously thinking I was kidding.

"Well, since your attitude hasn't shifted in the last fifteen minutes, I'm going to assume you're always like this." Kreiger said in his very cynical tone as he wrapped some sort of bandaging around my midriff. Did I mention I wasn't wearing a shirt? He made a quick glance to Twilight who in turn, nodded. "Well, in my professional opinion--"

He was cut off by a short moment of laughter from archer as he sat on the counter, sipping from a scotch.

Kreiger gave him a hard stare for a minute before turning back to me. "Just ice it and rest for a while, the bruising will ease and you'll be fine."

Somehow I began to doubt he was any sort of doctor whats-so-ever.

"Well the resting will have to brief." Ms. Archer piped in. "We have business to get to."

"That's my next question." I said looking to her curiously. "Why the hell am I here again?"

We stood inside Ms. Archer's office, looking at a slide of South America. "Over the last three and a half months, a new figure in the Brazilian drug trade has popped up." Ms. Archer said as she moved onto the next slide. What is this, nineteen-seventy-two? The next slide was a bit of a surprise. On it was...me. Only clean-shaven, my hair trimmed into a mohawk, and wearing some sort of combat vest and a keffiyeh around my neck and shoulders.

The rest of the group turned to me with curious glances. Twilight included.

"O Lobo do Norte," She continued. "The Northern Wolf. He's an American fugitve who's taking up business in the area of Sao Paolo as the new reigning drug lord. His success is related to application of military training and tactician skills, allowing him to overpower and remove any opposing gangs from his sight. Both the Brazilian and American powers see him as a threat and a very valuable target. Alive or dead, he's worth a hefty sum. Which is where you come in." She finished looking to me.

"Me, what the hell do you want me for?"

"Well, your striking similarities should be obvious, and his military-esque system has made the street members a much tougher issue and he's based in a well fortified den. We need you to infiltrate this compound and either detain him or execute him."

"Umm?" I held up my tattooed arm.

"Not to worry, we have professional makeup artists at hand to hide that...interesting decision." She said, probably meaning "idiotic".

I gave a very sour look around the room at everyone who was continuing to stare at me.

"We'll be leaving tomorrow, so best get to it." She said turning off the projector.

"Wait, I'm not gonna have to..."

"...cut my hair like that." I stared down at the pair of clippers in my hand, standing in front of the bathroom sink inside the same office complex. My shirt off again.

"I know you don't want to." Twilight said sympathetically. "I know it's not the greatest thing, but there's no one else who can do this."

"But why do I have to give myself the fucking mohawk?" I whined, "I don't want to look like a fucking punk anymore."

Twilight shifted in her cross-armed position behind me, stepping close. Her hands moved out from under her arms as she leaned up against me, her arms wrapping around me in a tight hug. "I don't think you'll look like a punk." She said in an attempt to comfort me.

"You sure about that?"

"Of course," She beamed. "why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know." I sighed.

"Look at me, alright?" She asked as her grasp loosened.

I let out a quick puff of frustrated air as I turned around to look at her. Hardly an inch away she looked up to me, her vibrant violet eyes shining with everything but contempt. "I don't care what you look like, I still love you." She hugged me once again, resting her head against the pectoral muscles of my chest.

I could feel the warmth and love just through the layers of skin, muscle, and bone, inside my beating heart grow further. The corners of my mouth lifted as I hugged her with my empty arm, resting my chin atop her head. I moved my head up and away as she moved, looking back up to me. One of her arms released their hold and her hand crept up toward my face, resting on my cheek. "Even if you look like a wanted man."

I could tell that was meant to be comforting and I held my smile, but it was a hard struggle to hold it. The thoughts and memories began to quickly replace the happy moment on my side. Seeds of self-despise sprouted. I hurriedly stomped them out, forcing my mind back to where it was.

I let go of her and she did the same. I turned back to the mirror over the sink, letting out a long sigh as I switched on the clippers. The small grooming item gave off a low buzz in my hand as I raised it up to my dark lochs, holding it only a mere inch away in hesitation. I gave myself a hard stare in the mirror. A battle waging in my mind to make my arm move. My breath was completely absent, I became lost in my own slate eyes. My hand jittered as it finally continued, the edge pressing hard against my scalp.

I forced the moving blade across my scalp, cutting away at my hair and scratching at the skin beneath it. The clippers jaggedly tore through my long hair, occasionally ripping a hair from it follicle roughly and painfully. I winced as it passed on, shaving away the hair in a long and now barren streak. The hair fell away, dropping down to the floor, into the sink and onto my shoulders. I shook the clippers in my hand hard, knocking off as much hair on it as possible. I finally inhaled and exhaled the breath, continuing with the grueling task.

Far off from the epic battle a lone female figure watched as the pair crossed glowing swords in the desperate struggle for survival. Her skin was light and flaw-less, her hair a long and practically flowing azure, and her eyes a mild cyan. She was clad in a dark cloak, the hood drawn back as she peered in their direction. Her job: Watch the one with the dark heart. But she grew confused and frustrated as she was unable to sense what she had before. The emptiness, the anger, the despise. Or the love, the sympathy, and the comradery she had seen before her own eyes. It was absent. What was, was...nothing. Just nothing. As if he wasn’t real.

She could not seem to figure out how this could've happened. Was her power no longer as strong as her sister? Had it somehow weakened? Or was there something else. What she could sense was something much different. Panic and confusion. Near the brawl stood a figure similar to who she was tasked with observing. He was younger, thinner, and much more mild in his actions. But what was most curious was how she could sense his thoughts and feelings.

Who was this? How could she sense his being? And why did he have strange appealing to him? She was growing more confused as these events unfolded.

Kimmy twirled and swung her recorder's beam only to be parried by James' guard blade. He then spun back around on his heel to deliver a swift round house kick, knocking her back in a daze. She stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, her recorder dropping and deactivating as it hit the ground. She stared up to him dumbfounded as he switched off the smaller guard sword and clipped it back to his hip, holding the much larger sword in an aggressive stance over her, the red blade flickering close to her face.

"This is a real fight," He barked, "with real consequences, sweetheart."

Kian's mind went to full alert as his brother said that. "Woah, woah, woah!" His brother yelled as he hurried over. He quickly held a hand against his brothers muscular form, pushing him back. "Calm it, man. You don't need to kill her, do you?"

"No."

"She's just a challenger right? You can just let her go. Part ways and never see her again." He suggested.

His brother let out a huff of breath and relaxed his shoulders, switching off the hilt and clipping it back on his belt. "Alright, don't get your panties in a twist."

"Okay, everybody's cool. Nobody's gonna die. Done deal." He said aloud as his shoulders sagged and his head hung in relief. He turned back to Kimmy, looking down to her sympathetically. "You okay?" He asked her.

She looked down sadly. "I lost."

Kian sighed and leaned down close with and outstretched hand. "You're leaving with your life at least."

She looked up to him, their gazes connecting. She reached out her hand and grasped his. "I won't lose." She hissed.

"Wha-" Kian was cut short from his reaction as he was pulled down, face first between her legs and into her skirt as her legs wrapped tightly around his neck in a head-lock. Kian writhed in a panic as he squirmed, his face held tightly into...something. He couldn't see or breath, his mouth filled with thick fabric. He could barely breath and he was forced into a kneeling position.

Luna squinted hard trying to make out what was going on. By looks of it he was--Luna blushed furiously at what she was seeing from the distance, quickly slinking behind the corner. Was he doing what she thought he might have been?

"I'll have my revenge!" She screamed. She thrusted her hips up and out in an attempt to flip him over and slam him to the ground. Kian mustered all his strength to resist her force, grabbing onto her legs and lifting her skyward. Kimmy yelped in surprise as he stood straight up, balancing her on him. He dropped back down in a kneeling position, slamming her hard into the ground hard. Her hold was released as she hit the ground, lying limply, her eyes lulled and trial of drool running down the side of her mouth. She quietly mumbled the few words she could before drifting off. "James the great..."

Kian slouched, panting heavily as oxygen refilled his lungs. His older brother stood beside him, placing a..hand on his shoulder. "Not bad, kid." He said with an impressed smile. "Guess that means you're in on the ranks too, little bro."

Kian stared up at his brother, breathing heavily with wide eyes, resembling a fish out of water in a sense.

I splashed a handful of water onto my head, running my hands through the remaining hair I had, knocking loose what freshly cut hair that remained I could. I wiped around my mouth as well, having shaved my beard with the rest. My face not exactly feeling silky smooth, rather itchy as hell. I scratched at the short stubble that remained, my finger nails making a soft scratchy sound. I stared on while doing so at myself in the mirror. The thought that the person I was seeing in the mirror and me were one and the same was possibly one of the few things that brought a bit of fear to my heart. My hand slowed up until it finally reached a dead stop, my stare resembling a deer in headlights. I hated being him and looking like that.

My mind started rewinding to a few years ago. To the time I thought I was happy and where I belonged. When I was brutal, sadistic, and loved doing it all. I loved the screams and the and begging and the blood. I'd never felt so satisfied. It was my breath of fresh air and my daily renewal. Now it's my longing nightmare and deepest secret from the word and those I hold dear.

Images began to go over my mind from the years ago. Sounds filled them. Loud and echoing screams of pain, gunfire, muffled gurgles, roaring engines. The sounds hurt more than I could imagine. My stomach knotting and the left side of my chest feeling like it was being turned inside out. Blood and grime replaced the images. Blood and grime on the light skinned faced of a teary eyed man, his face contorted in pain. His black hair hanging down onto his face messily and his squinted eyes as open as possible, water trailing down from them.

I hadn't realized how deep I was in my thoughts until Twilight started talking to me, snapping me out of it.

"How does it feel? You know...looking at the person you're about to kill in the mirror. Looking into their eyes and knowing they're yours? That you'll have to kill them in the end..."

The thought was one I'd pondered a few times. Does it feel weird to want to kill yourself? I honestly didn't know anymore.

At that moment in time everything seemed to fade to a white. I was waking up.

My eyelids eased and blinked open, adjusting to the fresh light I'd woken to. The rooms content focused into view of my hazy eyes. The nightstand, the balcony, Spike asleep in his basket, Twilight's vanity, the top of the staircase, the bed I was in, Twilight.

Twilight.

She was still asleep next to me, nuzzling my neck and using the scarf around it and the cushion of my recently gained chest fluff as a pillow. Subconsciously or not, she seemed happy. There was a lighthearted and loving smile across across her muzzle, her face partially covered by her ruffled bangs that hung down over her face. The corners of my mouth found a hard time not to rise. But there was a lingering thought in my head.

The dream.

The face.

The man I loved like a brother...Like Kian.

My friend...

My head filled with only that sole image. It haunted me the fear he had in his eyes. The sadness.

My horn lit up with a translucent blue aura, gripping and gently unwrapping the soft, black scarf from my neck, not to disturb Twi. I slipped it out from around my neck and sloppily folded it and nudged it over to Twilght, hoping the change would be noticeable. The magical glow around my horn and scarf died. I moved out from under the covers I didn't quite recall pulling up, sliding out from Twilight's grip on me and onto the wooden floor of the tree. My hooves making a soft clopping sound as they touched the floor. The make shift bandaging of towel dropped off, a fairly high number of scabbed cuts around my right foreleg still present, some of my fetlocks stuck to my hoof, dry and crusty with blood. That was likely gonna scar and last for a long while.

I quietly shuffled along the floor and down the stairs into the main library, making my way through it into the bathroom. The change of cold wood to cold tile wasn't all that drastic. My horn lit back up again, gripping the handle to the door and turning it, pulling it closed and eased the handle back quietly. The magic died out once more and I was alone in the bathroom again. Where hopefully no-one could hear me.

I stared over to the image that stared back roughly ten-fold in the mirror. The cracked remnants of the other day remained, the shards that had fallen neatly placed into the trash bin beside the sink. My appearance had changed drastically. My short beard had a little more bushiness to it, my mane was trimmed and styled, but still messily bed-headed and stuck with thick dirt, sweat, and oils. Oh, and I was now much, much lighter a color. The puffier coat twilight decided to give me was a nice change and with the new alabaster color I had a much more friendly appearance.

That may work on everyone else, but not me. I knew who I was. I wasn't the kind of person I wanted to be around. Not anymore.

I couldn't help but think about it again. My friend, someone I fondly called brother, his sadness, his fear, his tear covered face as he...slowly...died.

The image filled my head. It was never pretty to think about. But it was the last time I ever saw him. The last time anyone would ever see him...alive.

I never even got a word with him, not a single one. All I could remember of his voice was his pain-filled screams, his twisted agony, his grime and blood covered face. My own face had grown hot as the thoughts and images swarmed. His weak arm letting go and his head dropping as his last strength faded, his eyes lulling and his mouth becoming ajar.

My eyes stung. I could feel something warm run down my cheek. But I couldn't look to see what. All I could see was him.

Chapter 46: Inner battles

In the cracked remnants of the mirror I could see that same monster I saw too often. The cloudy, white, wind blown mane with reddened tips, his grey coat, his sharp wings folded and tucked at his sides. He smiled a broad and toothy smile, his crimson eyes gleaming at me in a vicious leer. "Hey, Buddy," He said very cheerily in a voice that was a little on the gravelly side, "How ya doin'?"

I could hardly move from my place. I began to feel cold and I shook in my spot on the floor. My eyes stung even harder and my face felt hotter. Something warm and wet ran down my cheeks, soaking into my short beard. I took a seat on my haunches, no longer able to feel the cold of the tiles. I began to shake my head. "No, no god dammit, no. You're not real. You're just in my head. You're not real. Get the fuck out of my head!" I weakly cried. I was crying. I really was.

I lost all support from my forelegs. I just didn't have the strength. I felt sick to my stomach. My front hooves slid out from me on tile slowly until I was lying on the floor, my face buried in my forelegs, wanting it to end. To wake up from this nightmare. It was the nightmare I kept waking up to. "Just leave me alone, god damn you! Just leave me alone..."

Kian's eyes burned as they opened from his sleep. He shut them tight and rolled over, ignoring the morning light shining in through the small window from his given room, trying to take back his sleep. He buried his muzzle into his pillow, pulling the covers over his head with a groan.

Mornings weren't any fun. Least not most of the time.

There was something weird about this morning. He could hear something. His ear twitched as he caught it. Muffled talking and yelling. It sounded like it was coming from the next room too. He gave a curious hum, wondering what the commotion was about. Letting out an agitated sigh he scooted out of his comfortable bed and onto the unforgiving wood floor. He shuddered as the cold ran up his legs. His teeth chattered, not used to cold like this.

It was cold in Michigan sometimes, but that's something you adjust to as the seasons go by. but when you're not ready for the cold, well, that when it really gets you.

He groggily made his way to the door, moving inch by inch in the chill of the morning. He pushed on the handle to his bedroom door gently, easing it open. Kian peaked out, looking around to see no one in the whole of the library. He let out another sigh and slipped out, taking a few paces to his left to the bathroom. He could hear more ramblings and sounds behind the door.

Growing curious, he pressed his large ear to it, listening in.

"Please...just leave me alone." He heard being sobbed weakly.

The tone it was being used in was definitely of sadness and the voice...it sounded familiar enough...but it couldn't be...could it?

Hot tears rolled down my cheeks, soaking into the coat of my forelegs. My breathing was ragged with the addition of fluids. I just wanted him to go away and never bother me ever again. I wished he could just die and never haunt me ever again. I sobbed loudly, gasping and mumbling random thoughts and pleas aloud. I kept on for what felt like ages. I felt like I'd never stop. But something out of the corner of my eye pulled me from it. I steadied and breathed normal, wiping my eyes to look clearly at something...something that glinted on the floor.

It was a shard. One from the mirror. I swore I remembered picking them all up. I looked down at it, my vision clearing of it's hazy tear filled cloud to look at the image in the shard. My reflection...at least it should've been. I saw him in it instead. A grey stallion, red eyes, a wind blown cloud like mane with reddened tips...tears streaked cheeks.

I stared at it with befuddlement. The stallion in the reflection was me. It couldn't have been. It wasn't possible-- I didn't look like that, that wasn't me, it could'nt be me! "No...no...no, no, no, no, no, no," I refused to accept it. It wasn't possible at all. "no, no, no, no, NO!"

I started backing up, saying it over and over again. No, I couldn't be him. That's not me. That wasn't me. I refused it all. I denied it all. It wasn't true, it couldn't be true, it had to be fake. I started shaking my head in refusal as I kept repeating it. "NO, NO, NO!"

My world darkened as I was myself surrounded by it. I was somewhere familiar...the dark space, the cold cement floor I sat upon, my form back into that of my human self. Flesh and blood. But looming over me was an equally familiar form. Grizzled and young with a dark lengthened mohawk that was slicked back and a growing in beard. Eyes that were a cold slate and had no emotion or remorse whatsoever. An expression that was blank and harsh and a very small scar on the end of his left eyebrow that went diagonal to the right.

His strong hands wrapped around my throat, gripping tightly and convulsing with rage. His expression changed to mad happiness. The toothiest of smiles broadly smeared across his face. "I am you. We're the same person. But you're weak. You're too weak to exist anymore. I'm done holding back. I've been in the dark for too god damn long. I want out. I want to live. You're my puppet. My plaything to enjoy torturing how I please. My bitch!"

I gagged and choked as he continued to strangle me. My face grew hot as the blood tried to flow, cut off. My throat felt dry and I couldn't let out a single breath or make intake. It all hurt so much. I gasped for air but was unable to take in anything under his grip. My own arms held tightly to his in an attempt to pull them away, but I couldn't do it. I didn't have the strength. Was it true? Was I really weak? Was I going to die, only for him to takeover and fill in? Was I never going to love Twilight and let this monster do as he pleased with her?

...No.

I wasn't going to let that happen. I wouldn't. I couldn't. I'd never let him near Twilight. That would never happen. Not if it meant losing her. That's not something I was willing to let come close to happening.

I used all my strength, gripping tightly around his wrists and pulling at them, trying to force them apart. My muscles flexed and convulsed, veins visibly popping up as I fought back. My face ached and my lungs screamed and begged for air. I just couldn't do it. Our arms convulsed, resisting each others, but I couldn't seem to get past his. My life was fading as what little blood flow I had left pumped. I could feel the beat of my heart in my neck as it painfully pumped hard. I shut my eyes in the stress, a tear welling up...I didn't think I was gonna do it...I lost...

With my last bit of energy I had I mouthed out what words I could. I'm sorry, Twilight.

My arms grips loosened and dropped down limply, no longer having the strength to resist. Hope became lost as my eyes peaked open to view the hateful eyes of the beast that would soon take my place. The tear finally rolled down my cheek as I began to fade. But...just as I began to...I could feel something in my hand...Light, wooden, and faintly glinting...all my remaining thought told me what to do and I did.

Elsewhere, inside the royal chamber of Canterlot Castle, Celestia stood by, watching the ethereal cloud of dark smoke. It rumbled and groaned loudly, growing larger. The wispy darkness of it started to become unstable and thunderous growls were emitted from it as it's chaos grew.

Celestia's eyes widened as she looked on with horror. "No. His mind is growing unstable. What's happening?"

A skull shaped form pressed through the veil of darkness, jutting out before Celestia, roaring loudly in her face before receding.

Her eyes narrowed as a golden glow of magic encompassed her horn. The same aura surrounded the cloud of smog, restricting it. Her eyes glowed bright white as it opened to reveal what was happening. The scene before her was in his mind. Two similar men before her, one gruff and grizzled and the other more sincere in appearance. The very life was being throttled from the other. The very essence of evil could be seen from the gruffer one wearing a dark jacket. This was the evil she had sensed in it's true form. She needed to intervene. A weapon similar to that of both worlds formed in the hand of the other one, hold around the grip being taken.

Her horn ceased and the view of the film of insanity ended, the cloud of pure evil being released from it's grip. The cloud began to weaken and dissipate, growing smaller and smaller as a loud shriek was let out. It faded with the smoke, no longer present.

My arm jut forward, stabbing the mental blade into his side. His grip loosening as his face melted into one of shock. He staggered up from me, dropping me to lie on the floor, choking and gasping, rubbing my bruised throat. He looked down to his side, blood reddening around the knife and dripping down. With new found strength I stumbled to my feet, tackling him to the ground and gripping the handle. I ripped it out as I slammed him down, an arch of blood trailing after and splattering wetly across the floor. I knelt over him, flipping the knife around and bringing it down with haste.

The blade pierced the skin of his chest, sliding past his ribs and into the vital zone. His mouth gasped out as blood began to form at the corners of his mouth, a weak gargle forming. I pulled the knife out and stabbed it back down into his chest, the gargle growing louder. I pulled the knife from his chest again, stabbing back with growing force. I did so again, and again, and again. My fury growing. I stabbed faster and harder, tearing away at his chest. The soft gargle was all that was left as his head looked off, his eyes glazed over and looking off.

He was dead, but I continued to stab away, my berserk of madness slowly dissipating with every postmortem stab. Once I finally stopped I was left there, panting and twitching in weak muscle spasms. My hands opened and the knife dropped to the ground, loudly clinking. My hands were spattered and covered in blood, myself not so far off... The knife itself was a dark stained red to the hilt, lying a few inches away.

Everything brightened and I was blinded, shutting my eyes tightly. It noticed it then weaken to a comfortable level through my eyelids, easing them open to look around. Twilight was standing in the doorway to the bathroom, looking at me horrified, tears forming in her eyes. Her lip quivered as she attempted to make a sound. I looked back down to see myself as a pony, my chest decimated with stab wounds and my head looking off lamely, eyes glazed over. There was blood splatter all around and my own hooves were covered in it too. The knife laid on the floor in the same position it had been, blood to the hilt. I looked down to where the shard was to see myself as the grey monster I'd seen before, small flecking on my face.

I began to panic. "What's happening?! What is this?! WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

James!

Wake up!

Please, wake up!

My eyes slowly opened. The blurred image of Twilight was before me, looking down just as horrified. A few tears dripped down as her saddened expression began to brighten. A smile came across her face as she hugged onto me, kissing at my cheeks. "Don't scare me like that!"

I couldn't help but ask, "What's going on?"

"We found you in the bathroom, on the floor convulsing."

I looked up to see Kian over me, holding me down.

My breath eased as I looked back down to Twilight as she hugged onto me, looking down to me with heartfelt eyes. She looked up from me to Kian, "You can go now." She sighed.

He nodded and backed out, unloading the pressure he'd applied from my shoulders. He left the bathroom quickly, leaving off with a long, drawn out sigh.

Our gazes went back to each other, she smiled softly, her head resting on my chest.

A question formed in my head that needed answering. "Twilight?" She gave a curious hum in reply. "...Am I a bad person?"

"No, of course not."

I looked off, sadly. "You're just saying that. You'll tell me anything."

"Well of coarse I will, because I love you." The statement was a little discerning, "I love you because I know you're not." I looked back to her, a soft and sincere smile spreading on her face. There was a glimmer in her violet eyes that helped prove her honesty. "I know you're good. I know you're good."

The corners of my mouth rose a little. I sighed, feeling a little bit better. I hadn't had such a feeling since I last talked to Celestia. A lot lighter and more relieved. I began to wonder just how long it would last. Perhaps I should try to make the most of it I can?

In the darkness a lone figure knelt on the floor, gripping at a handle that jutted out from his ribs. He pulled hard, the knife coming out with a loud groan on his part. His hand held over the wound as his teeth gritted. "I was so close. Dammit..."

Starting things out

When you kill people for a living, the only time you see value in human life is when you're staring down the barrel of gun. Which also, coincidentally, happened to be close to my current position. I was seated at a folding table inside some shithole room in some rundown building. I know don't much about it or where it exactly was. You really don't get to ask many questions with a bag over your head and something cold and hard prodding at your back the whole car ride. Anyway, across from me, seated at the other side of the table was a Russian man wearing coveralls like mine. And by, "like mine" I meant dirty, worn and spattered with blood. One of my, err, business partners; Yuri.

And beside me was some Albanian jag-off with a nice handful of his buddies elsewhere in this place. Two of which were standing guard on either side of the doorway to the room. He stood next to me, having set his Kalashnikov down on the table to load a snub nosed revolver. He only put in a single round and spun the cylinder, snapping it back into the frame of the handgun. He set it down in front of me, patting his hand beside it. "You play first, asshole."

I looked between him and gun a few times. "What, no smoke?"

He picked his rifle back up, leveling it with my face. "Play." His voice had harshened, growing impatient.

"Fuck me." I sighed taking the revolver in hand. I looked it over, examining the scratches in the metal work, stalling for as long as possible.

The barrel of his rifle came closer to my face, only inches away. "Do it."

I took a deep breath, exhaling it and flipping the gun around in my hand. I pressed my thumb on the hammer, cocking it and holding it up to my temple. This must have been the sixth time now. The sixth time I'd been in a spot like this. Not that I'd been forced to play Russian roulette under armed guard before. I meant the sixth time I was the one holding the handgun to my head, about to pull the trigger. But that was for much more intimate reasons.

I did my usual bit. "Happy thoughts, happy thoughts." Memories began to flood through my mind. Fresh ones. Oh yeah, I'd all but forgotten. Today, Sunday, May twelfth, is my twenty-fifth birthday. Well happy birthday to me then. I looked back over the last few weeks. possibly the few worthwhile moments in my mostly bleak and decrepit life. Possibly the happiest memory that came to mind was this. A young woman, my girlfriend. She's like any other girl. Average size, thin, light skin, long dark navy hair with pink and purple striping through it. And beautiful, beautiful violets eyes.

Oh, wait. That wasn't exactly normal or typical or anything like that. But I never gave a shit, I still loved her for who she was to me. And to me, she was perfect, perfect in every way. The way she'd hold onto me when we sat together. The way she'd be curious about anything. The way she'd be willing to try anything at least once. Except meat of course. But that was a well worth price for having her. She was how much my life was worth, she was definitely not something I was going to leave behind.

It had escaped me just how long I'd dwelled on the memory. The guard hit upside the head with the butt of his rifle. "Play, asshole!"

I scowled, glaring at him out of the corner of my eye, rubbing the back of my head with my free hand. I re-leveled the revolver to my head, taking another deep breath and holding it. I closed my eyes and slowly pulled the trigger. My life began to flash before my eyes. I'd been close to death before, but I was never so certain of it. Every horrid memory of my life flowed over my eyes. Each one more painful than the last. I squeezed the trigger until all I heard was a metallic click. I'd lucked out again. I dropped the handgun to the table, finally letting out the breath.

The guard slid the gun over to Yuri. "Play."

He picked the gun up and held it to his temple. His eyes shifted between me and the guard. I caught the signal and moved my hands under the table, pressing them to the underside of it metal frame. I waited. Yuri's finger eased on the trigger. Before it was close he whipped his arm out and pulled the rest of the way. A flash and loud bang sounded off as a large red spot hit the guard's chest. I flipped the table and dove behind it. Yuri moved from his seat and held up the dead body, using his free hand to aim the rifle at the other guard, letting out a spray of bullets. The other guards became littered with red holes and dropped.

"Hurry. More will come." He said running to the door.

I rolled out from behind the table and ran to the dead guard, moving his arm out of the way and taking the rifle. I ejected the mag and checked it. Fully loaded. I reinserted it and pulled back the charging handle. I took up the other side of the door. "Ready?"

"Ready." He nodded.

"Alright, three-two-one-go!"

He kicked the door, breaking the handle and lock. He aimed down the hallway, I slipped out the doorway and followed down. We rounded a corner and spotted another few guards. They spotted us and starting raising their rifles. We both aimed and fired faster. The guards dropped and we ran down the hall into a room with a few more guards with level rifles. I dove to the ground while Yuri ran at them. He swung the rifle hitting one in the face and turned him around, using him as a shield.

A few rounds hit him and the guard bled out. I lied prone on the floor, snapping from man to man, letting out sprays of bullets. Some the guards dropped and the other ducked behind a table. Yuri threw the body down and ran to me, reaching out and pulling me up. I ran to the table and kicked it back, knocking it forward and over the men. I sprayed out rounds and finished off the rest.

We hurried on through the complex, dropping all the guards we spotted. We reached another door and stacked up. "Ready?"

"Ready."

There was no counting, only kicking. I kicked at the handle, my boot slamming hard and splintering the wood around the handle. A bright blinding light blew over us. I held a hand over my eyes, shielding them.

"I think we are outside." Yuri stated, covering his own.

"Oh I couldn't tell, I thought we were just under a spotlight." I said sarcastically. My eyes adjusted. "Think we're home free?" I asked.

"We are long from." Yuri said tossing his rifle in a nearby dumpster.

I tossed mine in there too and looked around the lot. "Well this was a bust. Sorry about Grigori."

"Is okay, sorry about dragging you out just for this. And on birthday too. I am very sorry."

"It's cool. I'm just kinda pissed I won't get anything out of this. I really wanted to grab something nice for tonight." I said unzipping my blood spattered coveralls.

"Hold on, I think I might- aha!" Yuri said reaching into his. He pulled out a small clip of bills and handed them to me. "Happy birthday friend."

I accepted it. "Wow, thanks Yuri. This is just...holy shit." I said looking it over. A small stack of hundreds laid folded in my hands. I slipped out of my 'work clothes' and and stuffed the bills into my back pocket. I pulled my feet through the legs of the coveralls and wadded them up, tossing them into the dumpster.

Yuri looked down at my arm. "What this?" He asked. "Twilight? My friend, you have shitty taste in book."

"It's not those weird books Yuri, it's just this girl." I trailed off.

"Oh! So weasel finally get himself pretty girl. How is she? I bet she has huge titties." Yuri said with a creepy smile.

"Shut up red man." I said smiling and rolling my eyes.

"Well tell her I said hi." Yuri said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He offered me one and I accepted.

"Got a light?" I asked.

He reached back in and pulled out a small book of matches. I struck one and it lit, holding the cigarette between my lips
I pressed the tips together lighting it. I tossed the lit match into the dumpster, hitting a few old pieces of scrap wood and spread, lighting the whole of the trash heap. Yuri held his close to it and lit his own. He brought it back to his mouth and took a long drag.

"Ah, nothing like smoke after hard days work." He chuckled.

I exhaled a thin trail of smoke and looked off. "I should probably get going."

"Me too." Yuri agreed. "Well, have nice day then weasel." He said walking off.

"Later." I said walking off in my own direction.

Okay let me clear some shit up quick. Today's my birthday. Usually my birthday entitles major liver damage, but seeing as I have Twilight now--Oh yeah! Quick explanation so you understand what's going on. Basically, two weeks ago I found an attractive young woman in my backyard, both naked and unconscious. Yes, yes, I know, "that's total bullshit" and "You're such a fucking narc" and all that.

It happened. It's not all happy days the entire time alright. She dug up some stuff that I wanted to stay buried. But, I learned to just let things go and remember for what things were and not are. She explained her situation and I did my best to help her out. Which was take her to the local rehab center because I thought she was higher than a motherfucker. Sure things were rough between us at first, but lo and behold, drink the social equalizer. After a bit of sharing my home-brew we kissed and made up in more than one way so to speak. Things are going nicely. I'm still working my day job, but hey, it pays well and keeps us comfortable.

Now where was I? Oh! Right! Seeing as I have Twilight now, I wanted to make things special and share a nice quiet night with her. At first I found it hard to believe she was really Twilight, but I soon grew to it and accepted it. And I kinda...sorta...love her. *cough Anyways it's been about two weeks since all that--shit I already said that. Well, today's my birthday alright. I planned on going through a quick day and grabbing a bottle of wine for us tonight. No sex, unless she was up for it--No, no sex, just us enjoying a quiet night.

Well that obviously didn't go well. Shit went down, tits went up and a bunch of Albanian pricks ambushed us. Grigori, one of my 'associates', received a lit cigarette to the eye and a nine-millimeter chunk of lead to the frontal lobe for trying to be brave.

I walked off through the lot. I reached the end and ran through open area back to downtown. I strolled along the sidewalk, taking in the afternoon sight of the city. It was bright and warm over in Detroit. I walked down the street taking drags of the smoke and looked along the street for a specific shop. I spotted one and made way to it, crossing the street. I took note of the 'no smoking' sign and tossed the just-about-finished cigarette on the ground, crushing it under my work boot.

I opened the door, a small bell ringing over it. I walked to the front counter, looking up along the rows of dark red and yellow bottle covering the shelves. The owner walked up to the spot I was standing at. I read over some of them and couldn't decide. He gave a suggestion and I thought it over. I explained my situation and he pulled down a specific yellow one. He handed it to me and I read over the name and date. I nodded and set it back down on the counter.

I reached into my pocket for the clip and pulled it out, taking a few of the hundreds. I handed them to him and he rung up the purchase, handing me back the receipt and change. He bagged the bottle and handed it over. I thanked him and walked out the door, stuffing the receipt into the brown paper bag and the small bills and change into my pocket. I walked back down the street with a faint smile.

I walked down the street to the point of a small sign and bench with a few people standing beside it. I waited among them and looked down the street. The long white sign covered bus pulled in and everyone started pouring in. I followed in and reached into my pocket, taking out my annual pass and inserting it to the small machine by the door. It beeped and I walked through, sliding it back into my pocket.

I sat down near the front, looking out the window. After around ten minutes the bus made a stop and I got off. I walked down the sidewalk, now in the suburbs I knew like the back of my hand. I rounded a corner and crossed the street, turning left and made my way down the long stretch of Catalano. I looked around at the small trees and few birds flying by smiling. I probably shouldn't have been after all I'd done, but I saw no reason not to. I made my way down the street and up the familiar pathway to my destination.

I opened the door and walked through it, kicking off my boots and slipping on my regular skateboard sneakers, being that I had wide feet I only ever got things like them. Even they were pretty tight to begin with, but I've worn them down over the last years. I figured it'd been a long enough time to retire them and decided I'd look for some better ones later.

I looked around the living room to find it completely empty. "Twilight." I called out looking around. "Twi, I'm back." I called out again, walking into the kitchen and opening the fridge. I set down the bottle down on the top shelf and grabbed one of the chilled beers. I walked over to the counter, setting the bottles cap on the edge, slamming my open hand down on it, popping it off. I sipped it and walked through the living room.

I slid open the back door and stepped out into the backyard, still looking for Twilight.

"SURPRISE!" Yelled out the small group behind my house.

I was definitely surprised because I'd never had that many people over at once. Before me I saw my neighbors Jeremy and Justin, along with my younger brother Kian, and the loveliest lady in the world: Twilight. She hurried up to me and hugged me. "Happy birthday Donny."She said softly.

"Thanks Twilie." I said happily. I looked back to everyone that was there. "Wassup guys?"

"Nothin', just waiting for you." Justin said sipping his beer.

"Only you would actually work on your birthday man." Jeremy laughed. "You white people." He said shaking his head. He looked at my arm. "Seriously? Man look at that shit." He said, his own in a sling.

"Shut up cholo." I said rolling my eyes. I looked over to Kian. "Hey bro, how's it goin'?"

"Fine." He said simply. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Here, mom couldn't stay. All kinds of sick."

"Damn." I said opening it. I slid out a card with a penciled in twenty-five and a 'Happy Birthday' writtien under it and opened it.

Tá súil agam go dtéann do lá go maith agus taitneamh a bhaint as tú é.

( I hope your day goes well and you enjoy it.)

Tá súil agam go háirithe nach bhfuil tú dearmad cad a mhúin mé tú.

(I especially hope you haven't forgotten what I taught you.)

Mac breithlá sona, grá agam duit. -Mam

(Happy birthday son, I love you. -Mom)

Only my mother would make a birthday card from scratch and write in in a language she taught me over eighteen years ago. I smiled at it though, it had that special touch being handwritten and all. I put the card back in the envelope and slipped it into my back pocket. "So just what have I missed?" I asked.

"Nothing significant." Twilight replied. "Your mother dropped your brother off and your friends came over."

I shrugged and sipped my beer. "Not the biggest party but, eh it's still something." I said smirking down to her.

"Your friends got you something." She said with a humorous smile.

"Oh yeah?" I said looking over to them. "And just what would that be?" I asked.

Justin snickered and tossed me a package wrapped in newspaper. "So much for gift wrapping." He said.

I opened it and looked down to see a pair of blue boxers with a white x over it; the saint Andrews cross. I looked back at him shaking my head with a tight lipped smirk.

"C'mon." Jeremy said walking over to a few set up lawn chairs. "Now that you're here lets chill."

We walked over to the small circle of chairs and sat comfortably. Twi sat in my lap, my arm around her. "I was doing some reading and I found that book. I looked a little more of it over and found something interesting."

"Oh yeah?"

"So I was thinking..." She she said softly, trailing off.

"Hmm?"

"Since today's your birthday, I thought we could try something special." She said with a soft smile and lowered eyelids.

"Yeah? And just what would that be?" I asked, the corners of my mouth rising.

She leaned close and spoke softly, whispering.

"Man, just look at your bro." Justin said smirking. "Look at that shit."

Kian looked at me. I smiled happily and spoke a few inaudible words to Twilight. We shared a kiss and looked up to the sky.

"He looks happy, so?"

"That's just it." Jeremy said. "He's happy."

"What do you mean?" Kian asked.

"Well usually your bro's either pissed off or distant." Justin explained. "Ever since that chick showed up he's been different, happier."

"Why's that? Why would he be upset?" Kian asked.

Justin let out and irritated sigh and looked at Kian seriously. "You're his brother and I don't want you pissing him off." He said flatly. "Let's just say that a while back he lost a friend and a lot of bad shit ensued."

Kian looked thoughtfully at me. I sat back in the chair, Twi in my lap. She leaned back to me and rested her head on my shoulder. We looked up to the sky and spoke inaudible things to each other. My face grew concerned and I looked up to the sky searching it.

Kian looked up too to see that it was no longer a blue but a green.

"Shit." I said gawking at the sky.

It changed to a yellow and finally faded to a calm blue. "What was that?" Kian asked looking at the sky.

There was a bright blinding flash, everything being consumed in white. I couldn't see or hear anything.

My eyes lulled open and I looked around bleary eyed. Everything was fuzzy and strange. "What the hell?" I asked rubbing my eyes. My hands felt different. Solid, cold, not hands. My eyes focused and I looked around clearer. Everything was colorful, pastel like. I looked down at my hands. "What the fuck!"

I looked down at my hands to see a pair of dark hooves with short shaggy fetlocks. All along what I thought were my arms was a thick layer of short light gray fur. My left 'forearm' still held the tattooing. I looked myself over in a panic. Short dark mane, similar tail, large build, pricked ears, muzzle, horn?

"Holy shit! I'm a fucking horse!--No, a pony!--What the fuck is going on!" I yelled.

"You're in Canterlot my little pony." A soft, almost motherly voice said from behind. "The palace to be exact."

I snapped around with mouth open in protest. It opened further and hung as I stared wide-eyed at something I'd never expected to see in my life.

A feminine horse figure stood behind me. She stood whole feet taller than me, a solid white so bright it almost hurt to look at. Her long, multi-hued pastel mane and tail flowed in the solar winds, independent of any natural breeze. She wore light golden armor inlaid with gems and runes that looked both pristine and antique. Her eyes held a motherly love for all. Her wings were unfurled, making her look many times bigger. Her long horn held a slight shimmer of unknown power, and above it was a crown that matched her armor.

I gawked at her sight, my mind racing. "The fuck! THE FUCK! How the-what the-no-no-no-no-no. This is just some fucked up dream." I said aloud. " I'll wake up any minute and see Twilight and she'll tell me I fell and hit my head. Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up!" I yelled pounding my hooves to my head.

"I can assure my little pony, this is no dream." Celestia stated.

Chapter 2: "One usually shits one self."

I only stared up at her. I couldn't think, speak, or move. I only sat there mouth agape at her sight. She was beautiful and intimidating from her size.

"Is there something the matter?" She asked looking at me curiously.

My mind finally focused. "How...am I even here?" I asked.

"I brought you here." She answered simply.

"But how?"

"Magic." She said with the same simple tone. "The same spell that Twilight used to gain access to your world." She explained. "Though in reverse."

"Wait what?" I asked my mouth opening back up.

"I finally found the spell that sent Twilight to the world you live in. I still don't understand why she simply couldn't have come back." She said looking off. "Unless of coarse, she didn't want to."

I settled and stared at the floor. "She wanted to, but she couldn't use magic."

"What do you mean?" Celestia asked. "How could she not? She's a very gifted Unicorn, why not?"

"Because she wasn't a pony." I said with growing frustration. "And I wasn't either."

"If you weren't then how do you know of what I and you are? For that, how would you know she was a Unicorn?" She asked.

"It's a very long ass story." I said flatly.

She sat there quietly looking at me, eyes closed, deep in thought. They opened and she let out a soft breath. "I want to know everything."

I sighed and thought for a moment myself, trying to figure out where I should start.

"And then I was here." I said after telling only the bare minimum. The bare minimum being; I found her, tried to help her, did shit, and let her stay with me for the while. So yeah, bare minimum.

She looked at me with a rather serious face then looked off. "I know you're lying."

My eyes widened and my heart beat a little faster. "What?"

"You're lying, I can tell." She said simply. "There's more to it, much more. Isn't there?"

I shook my head.

She smirked and looked down to me. "You're making it a little too easy you know."

I looked at her seriously. "I told what's happened and all that you either need or want to know. If I did tell you then you'd wish I hadn't."

"I think I can be the judge of what I should and shouldn't know." She scoffed.

"I'm not saying that you shouldn't know, I'm saying you wouldn't want to know it."

"I still want to know, good or bad, an entire two weeks have passed since she disappeared. I still want to know everything you have to tell me."

"This is your last chance." I warned.

"Speak. I want to hear this." She said growing impatient.

"Alright," I said taking a breath. "...I fucked her brains out..."

To the princess of Equestria I said that. Right there to her, in front of her. She held wide magenta eyes, staring at me in astonishment.

"I love her alright. I don't understand it myself but I do. I found her, I helped her out and I just felt something. It wasn't intentional, us being together, not the shagging. That was intentional. But I love her. I want to spend my life with her. I didn't want to tell you that." I said looking down to the alabaster floor. "I didn't want you to be upset and send me off or never let her see me again."

She took a few shambling steps to me and sat down beside me. One of her unfurled wings wrapped around me. "You truly love her?" She asked. "With every part of your being?"

I quietly nodded.

Her golden clad hoof reached to me and raised my chin to to look at her. She held a warm smile and knowing eyes. "Then you have my blessing." She said softly.

I smiled and looking up to her thankfully. "You mean it?" She nodded and I smiled softly. "Where is she?" I asked. "For that fact, where are my friends and brother."

"Twilight and the smaller pony that looks a lot like you are at Twilight's library down in Ponyvill." She answered. "As for your friends, the Mule and Pegasus are over there." She said looking to a side of the room with a fireplace and a few scattered pillows.

"Well that's a reli--wait. Mule and Pegasus?" I asked looking at her confused.

"Your friends the Mule and the Pegasus." She said simply. "They were brought here too when the spell was cast." She explained. "It was an accident of sorts being you all so nearby each other. You all were effected and brought here. They, as you explained like Twilight had, became a form suitable to this world. Which respectively was both a Mule and Pegasus."

"Well that's strange." I said. "Why a Mule and Pegasus?" I asked.

"Well your one friend must have been in ways similar to a Mule and the other like a Pegasus. Likely why you're a Unicorn. Actually I would like to know something. How do you know of what I and everyone else is?" She asked.

"Because in my world we watch you, some people do anyway. That's why I found it hard to believe she was actually Twilight Sparkle." I said closing my eyes.

"What do you mean you watch us?" She asked confused. "You watch our every movement?" She asked becoming suspicious.

"No not like that. How should I put this. Magic, we watch you with magic." I stated, finding this moment unbelievably ridiculous. "Little kids, primarily girls, watch you. It's kind of a message sort of thing. Friendship and kindness."

"Then just why would you watch us?" She asked dropping suspicion for more confusion.

"I don't know, I saw a little bit of it once and kind of liked it. It's weird alright, I'm weird."

She seemed to think for a moment and looked at me seriously. "It is...disturbing to hear such a thing. Are they always watching?" She asked.

"No not always. Only when something important is going on. A lesson in friendship and stuff." I answered.

Celestia closed her eyes deep in thought, quietly saying only a few words. "I see."

I started to think myself. "Things aren't that bad right now. Sure they got dragged along but, I'm here now. Twilight's home now and she's okay. That's all that really matters."

"It might take some time but if you want, I can send you home." Celestia said walking to the cushioned zone by the fireplace. "Them as well." She said looking down at the Mule and Pegasus that used to be Jeremy and Justin.

I looked up to her. "If Kian is with Twilight then why are we here?" I asked.

She looked at me seriously. "Because I could sense something, something different about you three than him. Something darker, especially in you."

I felt my heart sink at that and looked at her. "Then why are we here?" I asked trying to keep composure.

"I wanted to find something out. A hunch." She said walking over to me. "I've already had a very brief chat with your friends. The Mule kept referring to something called peyote and saying things aloud to himself. The other simply passed out." She said looking back to them. "I had yet to gain any information I had desired until you finally came around. I still have things I need to know. I may just have to take gaining such information into my own hooves." She said coming closer to me. "I can feel it in you, the darkness, you the most. I can sense something about you. Great anger and pain, suffering, fear. Not fear of something or someone you know, fear of yourself. You are scared of something about yourself aren't you?" She asked already knowing the answer. "You fear you may hurt someone; Twilight."

I only looked up to her solemnly.

"If you're to see her then I must know what. For hers and your safety, I must know." Celestia stated.

I looked at the ground sadly. "I can't, I just...can't."

"If you refuse to tell me then I must delve into your mind. I must know." She said as her horn glowed a mixture of colors.

"Wait." I said. She only looked down to me, her horn holding it shimmer. "If you poke around inside my head, promise you will still let me be with Twilight, no matter what you see. I need to have your word. I need to." I said with a grim expression.

She nodded and her horn grew brighter. I started feeling light headed and steadied myself, feeling as though I would lose balance. Her eyes were closed and her face held changing expressions. I didn't know what she was seeing, but I knew it must have been bad. She had a frown that grew sadder and sadder the more time she looked through. Her horn stopped and she opened her eyes. "You my little pony have been through far too much for a lifetime." She said sadly. "You hold yourself for so much. And you don't want any of these things to hurt Twilight. You haven't told her any of this?" She asked.

I only shook my head, feeling a lot more focused.

"You may still see Twilight." She said softly. "But I must do something first."

The fleeting moment of relief ended and I looked at her grimly.

"I can feel an evil in you. The darkness I sense could consume you, like it has before. If you're to be with Twilight, then I must relieve you of this evil. And you must promise never to do something as horrid as you have in this world. Otherwise I may have to take a drastic measure."

I received the message. I looked at her gravely. "How?"

Before I could receive an answer she leaned down and touched her horn to mine. I felt something sweep through me, a wave of white. My head throbbed and pounded in agony. I couldn't move, say, or see anything. It all just hurt. I felt weak, sick almost. Just as sudden as it started it stopped. Her horn moved away from mine and something came with it. A shadowy cloud hovered around her horn, shrinking in size yet growing darker. I only looked at it with widened eyes. I felt lighter, like I had a week ago. Everything was gone, but really gone. I had no feeling of remorse, I felt almost clean.

The cloud dissipated and she looked down to me. "I've taken it. Taken all that you had from you. You my little pony are free, of your fear, your pain, all that had been there is gone." She said calmly.

I felt relief and a faint smile grew over my face. "Thank you princess."

"If you would like me to, I can send you to Twilight's now." She offered.

"Could you?" I asked accepting the offer. "Oh wait, and one more thing before you do, whatever, could you make sure a bottle of wine is sent to Twilight's? I wanted this night to be something special for us so I went and got one, but I got pulled here before then."

She smiled and nodded, her horn regaining the multicolored shimmer. "And don't worry about your friends. When they awaken I will send them too. Oh and I'll find them a proper place to reside for the time being. I know Twilight would be happy to have you stay with her."

Before I could say anything I noticed something alarming. Behind her, not too far away was a Pegasus. A Pegasus with off putting features. His wings were different than normal wings, thin and sharp. His ears were pointed and his eyes had a deep redness to them. His coat was a grey with darker stripe-like markings and his mane was a wind blown grey with red tips. He had small horns above his ears. He held an eery grin and leered at me and Celestia. With a flash and a strange magical sound I was in the library.

I shook my head, thinking I was just seeing things and looked around myself at the shelves of books. I could hear soft crying from somewhere. I spotted a small staircase and walked to it. My hooves making a clopping sound on the wood floor. I trotted up the stairs and into a bedroom. Atop the bed was a smaller lavender Unicorn with a navy mane and pink and purple highlight stripes through it. I hoped she could be able to tell it was me. She sobbed softly into the pillow. "Twilight?" I asked.

She looked over to me, her face wet with tears. Her sad face shifted into happiness and she jumped from her bed. She sprinted to me and hugged, knocking me back. She could tell it was me alright. She hugged tightly and nuzzled her face into my shoulder. I hugged back tightly and could feel some of her dampness on my neck. I stroked my hoof along the back of her head, through her mane. "I was so worried."

"I know, I know." I cooed. "I'm here now and everything is going to be alright." She lifted her face from my shoulder and smiled to me. I moved my hoof to her face and wiped some of the tears from the damp coat of her cheek. I smiled and held her close. Our muzzle's came close and we kissed, holding it and breathing together. We split and shared a smile, our nose's pressed together and looked at each other happily. "Welcome home Twilight."

She looked at my foreleg and saw that I still had the artwork. She smiled and buried her head into my shoulder. "Welcome home." She said softly.

The large door creaked open and a dark blue figure that looked like the night itself walked through the doorway into the room. "You wanted to see me Tia?" Luna asked.

"Woona, I'm going to need you to keep an eye on somepony for me."

Chapter 3: 20% more Scottish

We stood there together at the doorway holding onto each other. She nuzzeld my face lovingly and I brushed some of her ruffled mane from her face. "You still have this too." She said as she stroked her hoof along my muzzle. I realized I still had the short stubble that I'd been trimming and keeping for her. "And look." She said looking up to the top of my head. She reached up and her hoof gently touched my horn. I could feel her touch like it had been on another part of me, giving the same volt of ecstasy. I shuddered and clenched my teeth. She giggled and looked at me happily. "So you're one of those huh?"

"I guess so." I smiled back. "What about you?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"Damn." I said sadly. "Oh well. It's not all that bad."

"Like you said, you're here and everything is going to be alright." She said nuzzling my cheek again.

A thought came back to my head. "I'm not the only one."

She looked up to me noticing my mixed expression. "Something the matter."

I sighed and looked back down to her. "Where's Kian?"

Her face went back to my shoulder and she thought for a moment. "Probably downstairs with Spike. They seem to like each other."

I sighed and smiled. "Well I guess that's off my mind. Have you talked to your friends yet?" I asked.

"No." She said holding on a little tighter. "I woke up in my bed and thought all of it might have been a dream. But then I saw your brother downstairs. He started to panic and I explained to him what he is. He still seems to be upset but he's warming up to it as far as I could tell. Spike started asking questions and I had to explain to him what happened. Your brother started asking questions: how did I get here,why am I a pony, where's James. All I could say was that I didn't know." She said her voice starting to strain. "I didn't know where you were or what happened of if I'd see you again."

"You can officially stop worrying." I said raising her chin with my hoof. "Because I'm here to stay."

She smiled and our muzzles pressed together in a kiss. "Only Spike knows what you and your brother are."

"My friends got pulled through too." I said with a bit of laughter. "A Mule and Pegasus."

She held a worried look. "Do you think we should tell anyone else. They might not take things as well as him."

An idea popped into my head. "How about we tell them this. You went on a short holiday to do some research in...Trotland?" I suggested. "Just say you were in a hurry and you forgot to write out a note or something, or that it got accidentally thrown away."

"You think that might work?" She asked uncertainly.

"I coould alweys use my sco-ish accen. Seying thengs like thes woould worrk." I said using it.
(I could always use my Scottish accent. Saying things like this would work.)

"If you think it would work then I guess we could try." She said faintly smiling.

"Grret, my throoat coould use the exercese." I said hugging tight and letting go. "Why don' we goo fend aowt?"
(Great, my throat could use the exercise.) (Why don't we go find out?)

She smiled softly and nodded. I followed her down the stairs and through the library part of the tree to the living room. On one of the couches sat a small purple and green dragon along with an older looking colt, an earth pony. He had a cream colored coat and a dark brown mane that hung slightly over his brow. His eyes were an almost sky blue. He sat upside down on the couch with a look of frustration.

"Being a pony wouldn't be all that bad." Spike said trying to comfort him.

"That's not what I'm worrying about." Kian exhaled. "This is just a little much for me to handle."

"Like meeting your brother?" Spike compared.

"Speking of whech." I said interrupting.
(Speaking of which.)

Kian jumped a bit and flopped down to floor with a thud. He looked up to me with awe. "Holy crap. You're still freakin' huge."

"Like alweys lettle brrotherr." I grinned as Twilight stepped up beside me.
(Like always little brother.)

"Can you explain why you're talking like that guy from Brave Heart?"

"Charracterr." I stated. "Werre from Trotland and ceme back here weth Twilight. Thenk you coould pull et off?"
(Character.) (We're from Trotland and came back here with Twilight. Think you coould pull it off?)

"Do I have to use the lame accent?"

"Seriously dude, it sounds ridiculous." Spike jumped in.

I rolled my eyes and looked at spike seriously. "Be quieet yoou overr grroon lezerrd."

(Be quiet you over grown lizard.)

"Hey!"

"Spike, James, be nice." Twilight said in a firm chastising voice.

"Alrright mum."(Alright mom.) I said rolling my eyes and wrapping my foreleg around her. I pulled her close and she leaned her head against my shoulder.

Spike rolled his eyes and gagged hopping down from the couch.

"Yoou doon't haf to ef yoou doon't wan't to. But one of us as to' atlest." I said helping up Kian.
(You don't have to if you don't want to. But one of us has to atleast.)

"You can just say you're trying to fit in. Like Pip." Twi said smiling up to me.

"And yoou.," (And you,) I said pointing a hoof at Spike. "Doon't thenk I woon't kick yourr li-le wengless arrse if yoou get me mad." I warned with a joking smirk. (Don't think I won't kick your little wingless ass if you get me mad.)

"Good luck." he said taking an offensive stand. "I'm way tougher than I look." He said smirking back. He settled down and looked to Kian. "Your brother isn't all that bad."

"Thanks" We both said at the same time.

Chapter 4: Meeting the other Manes(Now with Pinkie subtitles.)

Me and Kian looked at each other, both unsure of who was being spoken to. Spike only smiled and rolled his eyes. He pat Kian on the back and looked up to me. "Glad to see you're taking this a little more easy than him."

I held a bright smile. "I have my rreasons to be' okey weth thes." I said resting my chin atop Twilight's head.

(I have my reasons to be okay with this.)

"Well that's you." Kian sighed looking at the ground. "I'm a horse, I'm stuck here, I don't have any reasons to be here or okay with it."

"Kian, yoou wan to knoow what aowur da used to' tell me' when I was upset?"
(Kian, you want to know what our dad used to tell me when I was upset?)

"What?" He asked raising his head.

I sterned my expression and deepened my voice a bit. "Son, if you'rre looking for sympathy it's in the dictionarry betwen shit and syphilis." (Son, if you're looking for sympathy it's in the dictionary between shit and syphilis.)

He looked at me with a small look of surprise. Twilight moved her head out from under mine and looked up to me. "What's syphilis?"

"Doon't ask." I said plainly. "Yoou'll oonly wesh yoou hadn't."
(Don't ask.) (You'll only wish you hadn't)

She took that note and looked back to Kian. "Since he's ready to go, are you?"

"Go where?" Kian asked.

"To' entrooduce aowurselves to everyone." I answered.
(To introduce ourselves to everyone.)

"Meet more pastel colored horses that can talk, great." Kian said sarcastically.

"Poonies." I corrected.
(Ponies.)

Kian shook his head and rolled his eyes "Whatever." He muttered.

"Well let's get going then. It's getting late and everyone must have been worried sick from what Spike's told me."

"Alrright." (Alright) I nodded and walked with her to the door. I opened it and let her walk out first, following close behind. Kian walked out, Spike riding on his back. How he got him to allow that, I have no idea.

We walked down the paved street together looking around, me and Twilight side-by-side. "We should try to find my friends first. Sugar cube Corner isn't far from here. We should try there first." She smiled a bit. "Pinkie would probably freak out a bit but be happy I'm back and to meet you two."

"Peculiar lass esn't she." (Peculiar girl isn't she.) I said looking up to the darkening sky. "The clouds here looks so fluffy." I thought. "I wonder just what Rainbow Dash might think of me. She probably wouldn't like me, though I hope I won't give her a reason to do so."

"Who's Pinkie?" Kian asked from behind us.

"She's-" Twilight started before being interrupted.

"She's the funnest pony in Ponyville." Spike said from Kian's back. "She throws all sorts of wild parties for new ponies and friends. Since Twilight's back and you two are here now, who knows how big a party she might throw."

Kian whooped sarcastically and looked back up to us. "So just what else does she do?"

"Pinkie works at the local bakery; Sugar cube Corner. She and Mr. and Mrs. Cake work in there to make some of the best baked goods in Equestria."

"Delicious." Kian said dripping with more sarcasm.

"Yoou bet yoourr rreght arrse lel' brotherr." I called back.

(You bet your right ass little brother.)

"You're pretty serious about the accent thing, aren't you?" He said dryly.

"Like I said: yoou bet yoourr rreght arrse lel' brotherr."

(Like I said: you bet your right ass little brother.)

He sighed and looked around. "Why do all these mares have tramp-stamps?"

I looked back to him with a scowl. "Whooa, where'd yoou ge't the mouth?!"

(Whoa, where'd you get the mouth?!)
He shrugged with a 'what'd I do expression'. "The only thing I've ever heard a tattoo on a girl's ass was called before is a tramp-stamp for obvious reasons."

Every part of me wanted to hit upside the head for saying that.

"I mean seriously, they all have one." He said gesturing to a small group of mares now looking at him. One leaned in and whispered to another. The mare then held a hoof to her mouth, stifling a giggle. "Even your girlfriend has one."

The last straw had been laid, the last twig snapped, and my last and only nerve had been tweaked. With clenched teeth and a twisting of my neck, cracking the vertebrae, I stepped over to him, planting a hard hit to the shoulder. His mouth held out a silent cry of agony and he only gave a gasping whimper. I leaned close and spoke softly. "Don't. Ever. Call her a tramp."

He cringed and nodded, receiving the message.

"Yoou mey be me brrotherr, but a lene mus be drrawn." (You mat be my brother, but a line must be drawn.) I said speaking at a normal level. I took back my spot beside Twilight and continued walking. "How does he know what a mare is?" I asked quietly to Twilight.

"I explained it to him." She answered.

I looked back and saw that we were where we wanted to be. Before us was the large bakery that seemed for the most part to be a gingerbread house.

"Now that's just ridiculous." Kian said looking up at it.

I only shrugged and followed Twilight up to the door. She only stood there, her face holding hesitation. I placed a hoof to hers and she looked at me nervously. I smiled and whispered to her. "This remind you of something."

She smiled nervously and looked back to the door. She took a deep breath and opened it, the overhead bell jingling. A sad looking Pinkie Pie walked sluggishly over to us with her head low, her pink mane straight and hanging down around her face. "Welcome to Sugar cube Corner, how may I help you." She said, her voice completely empty of her bubbly campy-ness.

"Pinkie it's me; Twilight." Twi said looking down to her uncomfortably.

"Oh, hey Twilight." Pinkie said still utterly depressed. Her head hung low then violently jerked up, her mane poofing into it's giant cotton candy like mass and her color brightening to a happy-go-lucky pink. "Twilight!"

Pinkie jumped to Twilight, knocking her down in a hug. A flabbergasted Kian stood beside me while me and Spike simply smiled.

"OhmygoshTwilighteveryonethoughtyouweregoneforeverandnoonewouldeverseeyoueveragainandeveryonewasllsadandloookingforyoubutwecouldn'tfindyouandtheneveryonewasallreallyreallyreallysadandmissingyouandwishingyounwerehereandnowyou'rebackandI'mallhappyandyoubroughtponieswithyouandthebigonelookslikeameanieandtheotheronelookskindacuteandyourhome!"
(Oh my gosh,Twilight! Everypony thought you were gone forever and no one would ever see you ever again and every one was all sad and looking for you, but we couldn't find you and then everypony was all really really really sad and missing you and wishing you were here and now you're back and I'm all happy and you brought ponies with you and the big one looks like a meanie and the other one looks kinda cute and your home!)

"Pinkie...you're...hurting...me." Twilight gasped as Pinkie gave a death-grip of a hug.

"Oh sorry, my bad." Pinkie said hopping back up and bouncing about excitedly.

Kian still looked at her like she was mad. He leaned near me. "Does she always act like this?"

I only smiled and nodded.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!Twilight'sback!Wherewereyou?Whatwereyoudoing?Whoaretheseponies?Whydon'ttheyhavetheircutiemarks?Oohthatonelooksreallycute!Who'sthereallybigone?Whyaretheyhere?"
(Oh-my-gosh,oh-my gosh ,oh-my-gosh! Twilight's back! Where were you? What were you doing? Who are these ponies? Why don't they have their cutiemarks? Ooh, that one looks really cute! Who's the really big one? Why are they here?)

Twilight sighed and smiled. "I'm glad to see you too Pinkie."

Chapter 5: Woona's part time job

Pinkie stopped jumping and immediately hovered in place. An awe struck Kian lost all grasp on reality and his jaw hung from place at this, eyes wide and staring. Physics, nature, logic, the fourth wall, When Pinkie's around; fuck them all! "I need to go tell everypony. I need to make a welcome home party. I need to throw a welcome party!"

With that and a small pink poof, pinkie was out the door and off. Kian only stood beside me, eyes wide and mouth open. No doubt trying to figure out what he just saw. I laughed and patted his shoulder. "At's Pinkie forr yoou."

He looked to with an enormous mixture of shock, confusion, and awe still on his face. "You sound like you know her."

"In a sense I do'" I chuckled. "So whoo's next?" I asked.
(In a sense I do.) (So who's next?)

"I guess we could try Rarity. She's not far from here." Twilight said walking to the door. I followed out and Kian trailed back a bit still trying to understand what just happened. Twilight leaned close to doubly make sure we wouldn't be heard. "Did she say he was cute?"

I thought and smirked, looking at her from the corner of my eye with a nod.

"What dos thine mean sister?" Luna asked confused.

"You received my message that Twilight had safely been returned?" Celestia asked looking down to Luna.

"Yes, we received it. You sounded most joyous that the spell you found from the Starswirl the Bearded wing had been of great use. Why must thou ask? Dos thou wisheth me to spy on thine student?" Luna asked.

"No, but when she arrived she was not the only one to be brought back." Celestia explained. She looked over to the fireplace at the Mule and Pegasus still out of it. "Four others were accidentally brought as well."

Luna looked to them. "Dos thine sister request us to spy on them?" She asked pointing a silver clad hoof.

"No, not them." Celestia said shaking her head. "They I do not worry about but one of the other two I do."

"Could thine please tell us more of the two to know what thine wanteth us to do?" Luna requested.

"One, an older Earth pony colt who is of no worry to me. He seems like a nice young stallion. The other, a large grey Unicorn stallion. He has...brought forth disturbing information and I would like you to keep track of his doings."

"We shall be off right away." Luna said trotting to the open balcony.

"No Luna, I have not finished." Celestia called to her.

A confused Luna trotted back and looked up to her older sister. "Then what dos thou mean, sister?"

"I want you to watch his dreams."

Luna only looked more confused. "Thou dos know of our power to view and infiltrate dreams, but what dos thine mean of us to watch this stallion."

I walked side by side with Twilight, nearing the boutique. I looked about myself taking in the site of Ponyvill. I could see quite a few mares looking at us. To Twilight with relief, to me with confusion and worry, and to Kian with...other thoughts. "He's really getting around." I laughed to myself. "Never imagined my little brother having a harem." I looked around and had a weird thought. "Where's all the stallions?" I looked back thoroughly and could only spot a small hand--hoof full. I doubled my search and looking for anything masculine only spotting the same small amount of stallions scattered around me. I leaned close to Twilight and whispered. "Where are all the stallions?"

She looked back to me plainly. "Ponyvill's population is roughly seventy-percent female. What you see is what's there."

I luaghed a little. "Boy is Kian going to have a field day when he stops wussing out." I started looking around myself and thinking back to episodes. There was mostly mares throughout Ponyvill with only small hoof-fulls of stallions. Pony lingo is really getting to me. I spotted one I hadn't and figured I missed. He was a bit of a distance and I squinted to try to see him.

"This stallion is not like any normal pony. I had delve into his mind after sensing something of him. A deep bitterness to life and living. He holds much pain and guilt. Much anger and hate." Her face saddened. "He's been through so much and all he wants is to have a normal life." She looked down to Luna with growing seriousness. "He has, in both real life and dream, committed horrid atrocities of life and well being."

"We fear that maybe he should not be in this world then." Luna said with an actual hint of fear.

"He has brought another thing to my attention. Though he has openly allowed me to see such things and admits guilt of doing them he requested that no matter the sight he be allowed to see Twilight."

Luna's expression gained more confusion. "Why does this stallions request of such?"

Celestia held the faintest hint of a smile. "Love."

Luna's head lowered and she thought deeply for a moment. "If so, then sister, why dos thine allow him full freedom?"

"Woona, I dived into his mind and memory. I watched much of his life before my eyes. But what he feels is in all truth, love. He shares this feeling with Twilight. But his life has caused great repercussions on his being. His psyche is no exception. His dreams test and torment him. Always using what he feels care for as leverage, always forcing him through horrid nightmares of suffering. He does not willingly do these things. He has to, to protect himself and Twilight. He has openly stated that he would never give up or let go, never look back or think twice, if it meant any risk of losing Twilight."

Luna looked at the marble floor, trying to piece together what she had heard. "But what if he ever was pushed to such extremes in this world?" She asked raising her head.

Celestia still held the same serious face she had. "I have taken a minor precaution to prevent such a thing." Her horn glowed and a small dark cloud hovered over her.

Luna looked at it curiously. "What is this Tia?"

"His pain, his anger, his memory. They've weighed him down and hurt him to limits that could break him."

"You've taken this from him?! But Tia, how is such a thing possible. Doing such would kill him or leave him an empty husk!"

I squinted trying to see what this distant stallion looked like. It was hard trying to do this and walk at the same time. I stopped and squinted hard. Twilight looked back to me. "Something the matter?" She asked.

"Uh, no' nothing, jyust goo on ahead, e'll catch up."(Uh, no nothing, just go on ahead, I'll catch up.) I said squinting in the direction of the stallion. Twilight walked on with Kian and Spike in tow. I could barely make out what he looked like. I could tell it was a Pegasus, but his wings looked large and almost sharp. His coat was a grey and his mane a cloudy white with reddened tips. He leered in my direction, his eyes a deep crimson. He held an eery grin and above his pointed ears were small horns. This was the same stallion I had seen behind Celestia. I shut my eyes and shook my head, my ears flopping against my head from the sudden motion. I looked back in his direction to find him gone.

I only told him I took it away. But what I merely did was suppress it. There is a very minor chance of it returning. What you see is a representation. He still holds these things, they're just locked away in his mind.

Luna looked up to her sister. "Then why dos thou want us to watch his dreams?"

"To make sure he does not have any more nightmares. Things like such could possibly re-awaken these horrible things. More could happen from it and they could entirely return to him. I need you to keep watch and inform of such things happening. If they come back he could create an unbalance in chaos and harmony. Woona, what I ask of you is of great importance. This could very well prevent the end of Equestria. I need you."

Luna looked up to her. "We shall not fail in our quest."

Celestia held a faint smile and leaned down giving a nuzzle to Luna. "Good luck little sister."

Chapter 6: Down on the farm

I looked around myself trying to figure out what I just saw. "Pinkie I'm okay with, but that's what's bothering me? I'm losing my freakin' mind." I sighed and trotted back up to Twilight at the door to the boutique. Spike groaned for some reason and Kian looked back to him over his shoulder. Twilight held a worried stare at the door. "What's the ma-err?" I asked.

(What's the matter?)

"This." She said pointing a hoof at a small sign hanging on the door.

"Hmm." I Looked to and read it.

Away on important business, closed until further notice.

"At's weirrd." (That's weird.) I stated looking it over again. The sign looked like it was written in pen and hung up not to long ago. "Must of been in a hurry."

Twilight sighed. "Oh well. We'll see her some time. Let's see, where to next then?" She said to herself, sitting down. "Applejack and Fluttershy live on opposite sides of town and Rainbow Dash lives about the same distance as all of them to the south." Her brow furrowed and she let out a huff and looked back to me.

I smiled and looked back to Kian. His expression showed he'd given up on figuring out Pinkie and went back to being a bit mopey about things. "Whoo woould yoou like to met firrst?" I asked him. "Applejack, Flu-errshy, orr Rreinboow Dash."

(Who would youl like to meet first?) (Applejack, Fluttershy, or Rainbow Dash.)

"Oh they all sound so interesting." He said sitting down and letting Spike hop off. "Why don't you tell me about them since no one can decide and you seem to know them all so well." His voice thick like sarcastic marmite.

I sat down beside Twilight and sighed. "Let's see." I trailed off. "Well therre's Applejack. Herr and herr family rrun Swet a-pple acrres, the local a-pple orrcharrds. She's that kinda down to earrth lass who's honest and harrd working."

(Well there's Applejack. Her and her family run Sweet apple Acres, the local apple orchards. She's that kinda down to earth girls who's honest and hard working.)

"Boy howdy." Kian said slumping down and laying on the paved pathway.

"Thn therre's Rrainboow Dash who's in charrge of Clooud contrrool. She likes flyin' fast and pleying prranks on poonies."
(Then there's Rainbow Dash who's in charge of Cloud control. She likes flying fast and playing pranks on ponies.)

"Cloud control?" He asked raising his head. "What's that?"

I leaned over to Twilight. "How much about Pegasi have you told him about?"

"Just that they have wings and can fly. I never got around to explaining all the things about them to him." She said softly.

I sighed and leaned away looking back to Kian. "Alrright, lessen time. Pegasi arre poonies with wengs. Sence they cen fly and moove cloouds they contrrool the wheatherr. Equesttria's differrent in moorre than jyust species."

(Alright, lesson time. Pegasi are ponies with wings. Since they can fly and move clouds, they control the weather. Equestria's different in more than just species.)

"Jesus Christ." He said burrying his face in his forelegs. "Why is everything here so freakin' bananas?"

"Shit and syphilis lad, shit and syphilis."
(Shit and syphilis bot, shit and syphilis.)

"Our dad really was an ass." Kian groaned.

"Mmhmph." I nodded. "And tha leves us with der li-l Flu-errshy. Like Rrainboow she's a Pegasus, but unlike her, she keps to the ground. She takes carre of a lot of the animals arround erre at herr cabin nearr the Everrfrre forrest. She's kind, carring, and, as herr name tells, a wee bit shy arround otherr poonies."

(Ant that leaves us with dear little Fluttershy. Like Rainbow she's a Pegasus, but unlike here, she keeps to the ground. She takes care of a lot of the animals around here at her cabin near the Everfree forest. She's kind and caring, and, as her names tells, a little shy around others.)

"Animals huh?" He sighed and sat up. "I guess it's not that bad. Better not get my hopes up."

"Alrright, so what'll it be? AJ, Rrainboow, or Flu-er?"
(Alright, so what'll it be? AJ, Rainbow, or Flutters?)

He covered his ears with his hooves "Please don't say rainbow ever again. Ever."

"Fine." I said rolling my eyes.

"I don't really care." He sighed. "Which one's closer?"

"I guess we could go from left to right, Applejack's would be in this direction." She said pointing down another pathway.

"Then let's get gooing." I said standing up.
(Then let's get going.)

Twilight and Kian stood and we walked in the direction Twilight pointed, a disappointed looking Spike jumped up onto Kian's back. I still don't get how he'd be cool with that. We continued our trek.

A twenty minute walk and we were walking along the dirt road. Kian looked along the rows of apple trees with the slightest smile. I smiled and nudged Twilight. She looked over to me and I cocked my head in Kian's direction. She looked back to him and looked back to me with a soft smile. A quick peck was shared and we arrived at the farm. I looked on at the barn and farmhouse, following Twilight up the path to it. We stopped at the door and she knocked. I looked back to see Spike stretched out on his hind legs atop Kian's head. He was stretched out and leaning against a nearby apple tree. Spike reached out and grabbed one of the apples in his scaly hand pulling it.

The apple came off the branch and he hopped down to the ground, holding up the shiny red apple to Kian. He took a decent sized bite with an audible crunch and chewed with a thoughtful expression. He tilted his head from side-to-side and nodded in approval. I smiled and trotted off the porch and over to them "Wassup guys?"

"So you finally stopped talking like an idiot." Kian quirked.

"No one'll hear us from the house and there's no one around the farm, so why not." I said shrugging.

"I guess your right. Anyway, Spike said this place was supposed to have the best apples in Ponyvill. I thought I might try one."

I had to agree. From what I've seen, they did look pretty good. A low growl came from my stomach. "I haven't actually eaten all day. I could go for some fruit." I said walking up to the tree.

I turned around and looked at it over my shoulder. "What are you doing?" Kian asked.

"Just watch, I bet he's real strong." Spike said leaning with his arm out against Kian.

I leaned forward onto my forelegs and bucked out with my hind legs, hitting the trunk and giving both it and me a shake. I felt the hit run through me like a tremor and I wobbled forward. A few leaves fell and an apple fell down and was impaled on my horn with a plopping squish. I didn't notice it and looked at them, both their faces holding grins and suppressed laughter. I looked up to the tree. "Damn, I really hoped that would work." I sighed. "I guess I'll get something at Twilight's." I said walking back toward the farmhouse.

Twilight trotted down from the porch to us with a sad and frustrated expression. "Noponies home."

A snickering Kian with a chuckling Spike on his back walked over beside us.

"What's so funny?" Twilight asked.

Spike laughed and pointed at me. Twilight looked up to me and held a hoof over her mouth in a giggle. "What? What are you laughing at?"

Chapter 8: A pleasant surprise

Canterlot Castle
Twenty minutes ago

Celestia stood on the balcony to her quarters looking down the valley to Ponyvill, contemplating over what she should do with the other two. A loud voice echoed over the castle.

DAAAAAAAAAAASH!

Her head cringed back and her ears pressed against the sides of her face in recoil of it's booming wave. It passed and she raised her head looking around. "Oh my."

We walked down the street together, my hoof still clutched to my throat. Twilight rubbed her hoof along my back. "When we get home I'll make you some tea."

I smiled through the stinging burn and looked ahead of us at Kian. He looked more depressed than anything. I only grunted and looked back to Twilight.

"He really is taking this hard. But remember, he doesn't really want to be here. He doesn't have any reason to."

I leaned close and rested my chin in her mane. She leaned against me and we walked close.

"I'm still happy you're here though."

We finally made it home after two hours of wandering around all for nothing. Spike hopped down and pushed through the front door with Kian. Me and Twilight followed into the library and looked at the darkness of the empty room.

Twilight trotted forward toward the kitchen. "I'll go get started on that-"

"SURPRISE!"

The light flicked on and nearly everyone Twilight must have known was there crammed into the library's mane floor. Twilight must have jumped at least two feet from it into the air. All her friends crowded to her in a group hug. Me, Kian, and Spike all stood by the door watching the scene unfold. Me and Spike smiled while Kian only stared blankly.

"Alright, so let me take a wild guess." He said looking at them raising a hoof. "Rarity." He said pointing at the white Unicorn with a styled purple mane.

"Yup." Spike nodded enthusiastically.

"And Applejack." He said pointing to the orange Earth pony with a blonde mane in a ponytail and wearing a brown stetson.

"Mmhmph." I nodded.

"Rainbow Dash." He said pointing to the cyan Pegasus flying over the group with a rainbow colored mane.

Me and spike nodded together.

"And Fluttershy." He said pointing his hoof at the yellow Pegasus with a long pink mane that hung partially over her face.

Spike looked over to him with amazement. "Wow, pretty good."

Kian only shrugged and walked toward the living room area. I watched him walk away and looked down to Spike shrugging myself. We walked to the group and stood by watching them.

Twilight held a hoof to her face. "I should've figured you'd get everypony here."

I coughed to get their attention. They all turned to me together.

"Oh, um...Hello, how do you do?" Rarity asked confused at my presence.

"Hey wait! You're the really big one from back at Sugar cube Corner." Pinkie said popping up out of no where.

I smiled and nodded.

"Hey wheres that other one?" Pinkie asked before disappearing.

I looked around myself trying to figure out where she went. I sighed and looked back at Twi and the other four.

"Well uh, howdy. It's nice to meet you mister uh..?" Applejack started, extending a hoof out.

"Oh, girls, this is James. A...friend, of sorts." Twilight said smiling.

I extended my hoof out and touched it to Applejack's. She looked down at my left foreleg as I lowered it. "Well shucks, looky here girls." She said pointing at it.

They all looked down at it with a few awww's and a smirk from Dash.

I smiled proudly and looked to Twilight.

Rarity came close and leaned in looking me over and looked down to my foreleg, examining the artwork I displayed. She raised her head back up and looked back to the others giving an approving nod. She looked back down to it. "I've never seen something such as this. May I ask how you procured it?"

I opened my mouth to speak.

"What is it anyway?" Applejack asked tilting her head to side, her stetson sliding a bit.

"Ooh ooh, I know, I know." Pinkie said popping up from behind her."It's Twilight!" She pointed down to it. "See, it says Twilight! It's even got her cutie mark." Pinkie beamed before disappearing again.

"That's really sweet of you." Fluttershy smiled.

I opened my mouth to speak again.

"Girls please, let him say something." Rarity intervened. She smiled brightly to me. "Please say something dear."

"Actually he-" Twilight started.

"He doesn't need to say anything. He's big, quiet, and looks cool. He's like Bigmac, only grey." Rainbow stated cutting her off.

Applejack smiled and nodded to her. Rarity still held her bright smile. "Please?" She asked. "I would be ever so grateful to know just how you acquired this." She said pointing a hoof at my foreleg again.

I opened my mouth to speak again.

"That's strange, It looks like it's on his skin." Fluttershy stated looking down to it.

"Well that's because it is." Twilight said looking over to her.

A small gasp came from just about everyone of them.

"Now that's cool." Rainbow said looking at it with a grin.

"Oh, what did you do to obtain it, a spell?" Rarity asked intrigued by it.

I shook my head.

"Well how else did'ya get it." Applejack asked.

I opened my mouth one final time, pausing to make sure I wouldn't be stopped. They all looked at me with widened eyes. My throat still hurt and I managed out what I could. "I-"

"Oh, right, you got a package from Canterlot!" Pinkie said popping up behind me with a medium sized rectangular package.

"God dammit Pinkie!" I snapped at her, my voice weak and strained.

Chapter 9: One fuck up after another.

"Can you just sit the fuck down for two seconds!" I wheezed.

Pinkie recoiled and set the package down on the floor gently. She looked at me with dampening eyes. She hung her head low and walked off through the other guests with her mane deflating. I only watched with a tight lipped expression, silently cursing myself for doing that. I sighed and stared at the floor disappointed with myself.

"Well I hope y'er happy. She went t' all the trouble of getting everypony here and that's how ya thank 'er? Twi, I don think he's much a friend ta anypony." Applejack said scowling at me. "Can somepony go find 'er?" She asked looking back to the group.

"I'll do it." Dash said flapping away. She shot me a dirty look over her shoulder and flew over head looking for Pinkie.

The remaining three simply looked at me with their own conflicting emotions about me. Rarity and Fluttershy trotted off. I barely heard Rarity say something. "And I thought he was a nice stallion, I guess I was wrong."

I turned to Twilight who had her own upset expression and wouldn't look at me. Applejack still scowled and shook her head.

I exhaled a few inaudible things to myself and reached for the package. I fiddled around with the brown wrapping paper in my hooves before deciding 'fuck it' and ripped it open with my teeth. Padded together was a tall bottle of white wine and two small glasses. I sighed and gathered it up in the paper, walking off toward the kitchen with it, ignoring all the dirty looks I was receiving. I stepped through the doorway into it and set them down on the counter and walked back out and toward the stairs, going up them toward the Twi's bedroom and walked out onto the balcony. I looked at the last sliver of sunlight descend the horizon and rested my head on the railing. I sighed and closed my eyes thinking. "Why do I always end up just being a total dick?"

"Twilight, can I ask ya how somepony like that could be your friend?" Applejack asked her.

"He's just...been through a lot. I guess since I met him things have been pretty...hectic for him. He's really nice, it's just a little complicated."

"I don see much reason fer him to talk ta Pinkie like that." Applejack snorted. "That's just plain mean."

"He's just been through a lot." Twilight said looking down to her hooves. "He's not very good with new ponies."

"And just what's so bad that he's gone through ta make him like that?" She asked turning to her.

Kian walked through the kitchen and passed by the door to the stairway. Beyond that door was the basement. The door was slightly open and he could here a few quiet sobs come from down there. He eased it open and looked down the dark stairs into the shadows, still hearing the sobs. He took a few quiet steps down them and into the dark basement, looking where they were coming from. He could see a medium sized pink mass curled up near a corner. It sniffled and sobbed softly to itself.

He took a few steps closer to it. "Um, hello."

A head raised up and looked at him with wet eyes. A straight pink mane hung over the face and looked at him with a bit of fear. He could tell by the size and way it was shaped that it must be a mare.

Kian took a few steps closer. "Are you alright?"

"No." She answered.

He took a last few steps and sat down beside her. "What's the matter?" He asked.

"It's nothing." She said laying her head back down.

"I really doubt that." He said patting a hoof on her back.

"He's just a big meanie." She pouted shrugging him off.

"Who?" Kian asked confused.

"That big pony with Twilight's name written on him."

"Ooooh," Kian said with a knowing expression. "My brother can be a bit of a hardass."

"Brother?" She asked raising her head again.

Kian sighed and looked at her sympathetically. "Yeah."

"If you're his brother then you're probably like him." She said looking away from him. "Just a big meanie."

He chuckled at that. "You have no idea how wrong you are."

"So you're not a meanie?" She asked.

"I'm down here trying to make you feel better. Do I look like a meanie to you?"

"No," She said looking back to the floor. "But he didn't either."

"Don't worry about him, he's just rough around the edges." He smiled. "He may seem fine but stuff gets to him like you and me."

She finally sat up and smiled through her long pink mane.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Pinkie."

He put a foreleg around her shoulder. "Well trust me Pinkie, you'll learn to lo-"

He was cut off by the kiss he received. His eyes widened in shock and his free leg flailed in panic. She kissed hard and pushed against him, knocking him down.

I looked down at the few ponies walking past the library at the late hour. I could see one couple walk close together down the road. I hated myself for all the shit I've done. Now and back then. I felt a particular pang of guilt for lying to Twilight about a lot of things. I needed to clear my head of things. I walked over to the side of the balcony and stepped over the rail and hopped to one of the branches. I shimmied along it to the base and dug my hooves into the trunk of the tree. I moved along and went lower and lower between branches. I hung down from the lowest and dropped the ten feet to the ground with a loud thud. I dusted off my coat and started walking off in a random direction. "I need a drink."

Chapter 10: Party's downstairs/Drink away the pain

"I don't know what he might have done if I didn't say anything or do anything. He's finally getting over it and I've been helping him get through things. He's just rough around the edges." Twilight finished explaining things to Applejack, warping them to be truthful without telling the whole truth.

"Well shucks, I feel like I should give him an apology. I didn't think somepony's life could be so topsy-turvy. He did look like he didn't mean it." Applejack said looking to the floor. "You think maybe if we explain things to the other girls they could all forgive him? Pinkie included?"

Twilight smiled and nodded. Her expression changed more to curiosity. "Now that I think of it, where did he go?"

"I think I saw him go thataway with that package Pinkie had." Applejack said pointing to the kitchen.

They trotted toward it and into the kitchen, though I wasn't there. Twilight noticed the opened package on the counter. She walked over to it and finished the unwrapping of the torn paper. Her horn glowed purple and the bottle and glasses floated out with the paper packing to keep them safe. She set the glasses down and looked at the large bottle with a yellow liquid in it. A small tag was tied to the neck and it hung down from it. She steadied it and read it.

As requested, a bottle of one of the finest wines from Canterlot.
Courtesy of the castle wine cellars.
I hope you and Twilight enjoy and that your night be a magical one.

~Princess Celestia

A smile and a small tear formed from Twilight as she set it down on the counter. She turned to Applejack. "AJ, if you don't mind, could we wait until tomorrow?"

"Uh, sure Twi, could I ask why?"

Twilight's horn glowed and moved the bottle over for Applejack to see the tag. "Oh." Applejack read it over a few times trying to make sense of what she meant. It finally hit her and her eyes widened a little. "Oooooh, uh sure Twi, I'll get right outta yer mane." She said with a hint of pink coming to her cheeks. "They're those kinda friends." She said softly to herself as she trotted off.

Twilight happily levitated the bottle and glasses looking around. "Now where is he?" She asked herself. She noticed the sun on it's very edge outside her window and figured out where I'd be. She smiled and walked out the kitchen and through the ponies to the stairs, going up them and into her room. She set the bottle and glasses down on her nightstand and trotted over to the small doorway and out onto the balcony. But I wasn't there. She looked around and walked back into her room. "Where is he?"

I trotted down the street, hoping some night air would help do what alcohol always did for me. I looking around myself now and again, looking at the few ponies still out. Mostly couples for a late night stroll. I started feeling bad again about what I did back there. My temper got the better of me, something I wish hadn't remained. I looked off toward the rising moon, the sun now out of view, wondering something. "Is she really okay with me and Twilight being together?"

I knew I wasn't the greatest person to be a partner like that, but all I really wanted was for things to work. I wanted her to be happy but always seemed to screw things up or get blindsided by something stupid. I hung my head low, staring at the tattoo. "I guess Kian isn't the only one having a rough time after all."

Pinkie's lips were locked to Kian's and his legs flailed as she went to town. Her hooves held tight to her around his neck and she slid along him, her crotch stimulating from the friction and warmth of their coats. A thin smearing trail of her juices followed it along him, his fur sticking to him. A few tears of strain formed in his eyes as he felt something he'd never felt: absolute ecstasy. She moaned into his mouth and he'd never felt so alive. He could feel himself slide out and her soft mound rub along it. The lips of her slit parted as they kissed along his shaft. He breathed raggedly into her mouth, giving up and accepting her, kissing back with all he had.

It was his first, for a lot of things at that moment. She slid along him, his length extended as far as it could. Her wet folds warm with desire. She split off from him and slid up along him, her haunches splayed on his chest. He stared speechless at her nethers and she looked down from atop him, panting, sweat running along her face. She smiled amorously and lifted up from him, his member, a whole foot or so of brown with creme colored splotching near the end, stood at attention. She moved down with her pink rump in the air, her waist floating over his. She lowered herself down, the flat head of his shaft pressing into her mound and slipping in. She moved slowly, savoring every inch of him as he slid inside. Kian's mouth was hung open as he felt her soft velvety walls hug around his member.

Twilight went down the stairs and back to the party looking around. She spotted Applejack along with Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash among the ponies. She trotted over to them. "Have any of you seen where James went? He wasn't upstairs."

"Uh, Twi, we don't exactly need to know about that last part." Applejack said, her nose scrunching up.

"Besides, he hasn't shown his tail around here since...that stuff with Pinkie." Rainbow said rubbing a hoof along the back of her head.

"Don't worry Twilight dear, Applejack already explained his reasons for outburst earlier." Rarity said with a soft smile.

"How dreadful." Fluttershy nodded.

"If he's not here then he might of ran off." Twilight said worriedly. "The last time he did that he was really upset." She looked to her friends gravely, her eyes showing fear. "Girls, we need to find him."

I raised my head and walked with a higher pace than earlier. My face giving off all it had to. I kicked one of my forelegs in anger along the ground, my hoof striking hard at the pavement and skidded off. "Every motherfucking time I try to do something it always goes shit." I mumbled. "Every god damn time I royally fuck it up." My hoof striking hard on the ground. "I always fuck everything up, now matter what." I huffed and sat down my eyes closed in spite. "I'm a fucking mistake and everything I do is a fucking mistake."

I stood back up and walked down the street, ignoring the stares I'd acquired. Something caught my eye, that same Pegasus I had already seen twice. Sharp wings, windblown mane, red eyes. I shut my eyes again and shook my head fiercely. "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, YOU'RE NOT GOING CRAZY! GYAAAGH! GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HEAD!" My mind screamed. I opened my eyes to see him gone again. I looked around for the closest thing to what I was looking for. A tavern, a pub, something I drown myself in. I spotted something; Butterscotch's Ice-cream Parlor and Bar.

"Quaint." I muttered to myself, walking through the door and into it. I sighed and looked around the inside to see a unicorn mare behind the counter. She was a cocoa brown with, what looked like yellow socks that went up to her cannons. Atleast they looked like socks. "Is any of that sock bullshit for real?" I wondered to myself. Her long mane was a mix of a chocolatey brown, a creamy yellow, and a caramel like golden brown and hung down from the right side of her face. A small red rose behind her left ear "Weird, never seen her in the background of any episodes. Guess I must've missed her or something." I thought cantering up to the counter.

"New customer," She smiled. "What'll it be?" She asked as I attempted getting into one of the stools.

I finally did and ignored the menu. "Just give me the strongest thing you have." I said staring down at my hooves on the counter.

"Well there's a few things that are pretty strong, the specialty being one. The Butterscotch Sundae, vanilla bean ice-cream with nuts, caramel, and hot butterscotch sauce. Made with a triple shot of whi-"

"I don't eat Ice-cream." I interrupted. "The sign said bar, all I want is something heavy to drink."

"But it's made-"

"I don't care about the damn Ice-cream." I interrupted again, burying my face into my forelegs. "Just give me a bottle of whatever will get me shitfaced the fastest and leave me be dammit."

She sighed and turned around from the counter and looked along the shelves, saying a few inaudible things herself.

"Yeah fuck you too." I mumbled to myself.

She squeezed around him as she descended onto his length, moaning. Kian groaned out and bit his lip in a tight smile, loving her tight pinkness. All his instincts yelled at him to let go and give her the hardest dicking possible. Her legs on either side of him bending down, her haunches dripping with lust. A small droplet of her warm juice dribbled out and ran down his shaft, further exciting him. She moved lower, to the point where she had to spread her legs wider. Her mound slid down his member and reached the base, clenching around him, moaning.

He clenched his teeth at the tight hold of length, his eyes shut in ecstasy. Her face came back close to his and kissed hard and she slid up from him, squeezing hard. It took everything he had from letting it out. But something in his mind pushed him to keep from it, the knowledge that that would easily screw his life over majorly. She slid back down, taking him back in and moaning into his mouth. She raised back up and slid back down again and again, feeling it herself. She moved faster and slid up with a higher pace before coming back down with matching speed. She kept up the pattern, going even faster.

Kian's hooves moved up and held onto her sides as her hips slammed down onto his member almost painfully, his eyes shut and mouth open in absolute bliss. He couldn't hold it anymore, all hell was about to break loose, no turning back, game over. Then something he hadn't and probably never would have expected. Pinkie held on tight, kissing hard, and giving one finally slam onto his shaft before moaning loudly into his mouth and splitting off, slumping down onto his shoulder. He felt something thick and wet run down him onto his crotch. He opened his eyes and looked down between his and her's bodies, both of them panting and sweating profusely. He could see something thick and white puddle at his groin, but it wasn't from him.

Her hoof reach up and held onto his ear. She whispered into it "Could you take your turn please?"

Hearing that gave him the greatest satisfaction he'd ever wanted. His face still a weak smile, he let it out. A thick shot of sticky seed filling her to the brim and leaking out. His length softened and started to retract. She smiled and lifted off, a trail of the white goo dripping out, lying down next to him. He reached a foreleg around her and she backed into him. Both falling asleep while spooning.

Chapter 11: Talking it out

She set a brown bottle down on the counter and levitated a shot glass over to it, pouring the golden brown liquid into the glass. She nudged the glass over to me and I raised my head to look at it.

I sighed and picked it up in my teeth and knocked it back, swallowing it and letting the closest hint of a burn be washed away. Not like it was the first time I had to do it like that. I set it down onto the counter and stared at it. I patted my hoof on the counter and she refilled it. I picked it back up in my teeth and knocked the shot back, setting it back down and patting my hoof on the counter again. She refilled it and I knocked it. Over and over.

At least half a dozen or so had been taken in and I still patted my hoof on the counter for more. She stared wide eyed as she poured me one after another and I still drank them with out falter. Once a dozen was broken she corked the bottle and put it back up. "Okay, that's just not possible." She said shaking her head, her mane bouncing a bit from it. "Nopony can drink that much and still be alive, nopony.

"Then I guess I'm nopony." I slurred. "Caushe that shit's weak." I patted my hoof on the counter again. "Keep it comin'"

"Uh uh, I'm stopping you before you hurt yourself anymore." She said shaking her head. "I really should have stopped you earlier, but I was hoping you'd call it quits and stop yourself."

I buried my face back into my forelegs. "Everyone quitsh on me. Why would you be different?"

She stared confused at me. "You know most ponies who come here leave as happy drunks. You're a first."

"Why should I be happy? Every thing I do ish just one fuck up after another. I don't have a reashon to drink happy anymore." I slurred out before pushing back and toppling the stool I sat in. I hit the floor back first with a loud thud, yet only only lied there staring at the ceiling.

She leaned over the counter to look at me. "You still alive?"

"Téigh a fuck féin le buidéal fuisce." I answered.

"Did you find Pinkie?" Twilight asked turning to Rainbow Dash.

"Nope, couldn't find her." She said shaking her head.

"She probably went back to Sugar cube Corner. I guess we won't have to worry about her. She's okay at least."

All the others nodded with her.

"Spike?!" Twilight called out.

"Right here." He said walking up behind her, causing her to jump

"Oh, Spike, there you are. Have you seen Kian anywhere?"

"Uh nope, haven't seen him." He said shrugging.

"Who?" Rarity asked

"Kian, James' younger brother. He came with us from their...home." She tried, hoping it would pass by Applejack.

"You mean the other pony that was with you?" Fluttershy asked. "The earth pony?"

Twilight nodded.

"I wonder where he's at." Rainbow said holding a hoof to her chin.

"No time." Applejack said starting for the door. "From what Twi told me, that big fella could do some damage if we don find him."

Twilight along with Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy walked along the streets looking for me. They asked a few ponies only to receive shaking heads. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew from block to block asking and received only shrugs and shaking heads. Rarity raised a hoof with an idea. She asked for a piece of paper and quill, promptly receiving them. She quickly sketched out an image of my tattoo. They showed that around and still received only shakes and a few tilting heads. They gathered and sat together trying to figure out another plan. A light brown earth pony with a dark brown mane looked down at picture and tapped Twilight shoulder. He pointed in a direction and Twi smiled hopefully.

They hurried down the street, hoping the lead was right.

The mare walked around the counter and stood over me, nudging her hoof at my side. "You okay?"

"Jusht leave me alone." I grumbled turning away.

She sighed and lied down next to me. "You're on my floor, I can't exactly just leave you. What if more customers show up?"

"I don't care." I groaned.

"What's the matter?" She asked.

"It'sh nothing alright, just nothing."

"If it was nothing then you wouldn't be drunk and on my floor grumbling about it, now would you?" She smirked.

I sighed and extended my left foreleg out. "Fine."

"hmmm." She looked along it at the tattooing. "Never seen something like this before. Is this stuff what's bothering you?"

"The name." I grumbled. "The name."

She leaned close and read it, tiliting her head to the side to try to make sense of it. "Twilight?"

I only grunted and set my foreleg back down.

"The only Twilight I know of is the librarian. Is she what's bothering you?" She asked.

I groaned and turned. "Why am I shuch an asshole?"

"What happened?" She sighed.

"I got mad at Pinkie and yelled at her. Now they all hate me, even her."

"Don't worry,"She said patting a hoof on my back. "They can't stay mad forever, right? Just say your sorry and things will be fine."

"I doubt that. I'll just cock that up like I have everything else in my life."

"Alright, let me try to understand this a little more. Why do you have that stuff written on you?" She asked confused.

"Back home, when we were there...I went and got it to show her...how much I love her." I trailed off.

"Does she love you back?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"Then stop feeling sorry for yourself. Finding love isn't a mistake, and having rough waters is just part of it. She'll forgive you and so will her friends, just stop taking everything for more than it is and forgive yourself. You can never really make her mad at you...unless you cheat on her."

"I'd never do that!" I snapped turning over.

"Calm down, you've got her name written on you. I think dibs have already been taken." She smiled.

I sighed and looked her in the eye. "What'sh you name?"

"Butterscotch Sundae." She said smiling.

I thought about it and stumbled to my feet. "Thanksh for...all that. I really do need to stop taking theingsh sho sherioushly.

"My pleasure." She beamed. "Not everyday I get to help out someone like in my stories."

"Big reader?" I asked.

"No, I write novels in my free time. More of hobby than the job it used to be."

"What d'you write about?" I asked stumbling to my hooves.

"Things..." She trailed off. "Naughty things." I could see the corner of her mouth rise at that.

I sighed and took a few shambling steps before stumbling and falling face first. "I'm not going anywhere for now. Got one on you?"

Chapter 12: Retribution

Twilight and the others hurried down the street, looking from left to right at all the ponies and stores. They still couldn't spot anything. They decided to ask around some more. A mare couple walked by, a minty green Unicorn with a green and white mane along with a cream colored Earth pony with a pink and navy mane.

"Excuse me." Twilight said walking over to them. "Have either of you seen a really big Unicorn pony, gray with a dark mane and tail?"

"Doesn't ring any bells." The Earth pony mare said, raising a hoof to her chin. "I think I might have, but I'm not for sure."

"Did he have this on his left ar--leg, left leg?" Twilight asked correcting herself, levitating the sketch up to them.

They looked it over, the Earth pony mare shrugging the Unicorn raising a hoof. "Oh yeah, remember? He was the one that kept kicking the ground and saying things to himself."

"Oh yeah."

"You saw him?" Twilight asked anxiously.

"Yeah, he went in there." the unicorn said pointing to an ice-cream parlor.

"Thanks." Twilight said hurrying over to it with the others in tow. They pushed through the doors to something they didn't quite expect.

"And then he shaysh: read it? I already ruined it!" I said finishing a joke. Both of us laughed and Butterscotch set down a small book. I looked toward the door to see Twilight with all her friends behind her. "Oh, uh , hey Twi." I said smiling sadly.

"Um, can I ask what's going on?" She asked looking at the both of us confusedly.

"Thish ish Butterscotch." I said gesturing to her. "I've been talking to her for a while now." I said attempting at my legs. I stood and took a few shambling steps toward. "Listen, I know I haven't been the besht persho--pony," I corrected myself. "But I just want to shay I'm shorry. I didn't mean to do what I did and I'm a total jackash. I don't care if you don't forgive me, jusht pleashe don't be mad." I stumbled over to her.

She sighed and smiled softly at me. "Well I do forgive you, you said you were sorry and believe me; I don't think I could ever be mad at you."

I could see all the other smiling behind her.

I smiled and looked back to Butterscotch. "Thanksh."

"Anytime." She said nodding.

I wrapped my foreleg around Twilight and we left the parlor along with all the others, leaving Butterscotch while she stood up. Something finally came back to her. "Wait, you forgot to pay." She said trailing off at the last few words now that I was gone. "Ooooh."

"Hey where'sh Pinkie?" I asked walking with Twilight.

"Don't know, nopony could find her." Twi said shrugging.

"Remind me shay shorry to her later." I said looking up to the night sky. "Shome birthday, huh?"

"Brithday?" Rainbow Dash said flying overhead. "What d'you mean?"

"Oh, right." Twi said scratching the back of her head. "Today's James' birthday." Her eyes closed in a lighthearted smile.

"Well happy birthday." Applejack said smiling and patting my shoulder.

"And we all just wanted sorry for how we treated you after that. That wasn't very nice of us either." Fluttershy said with a soft smile. "We didn't know about your...situation, and how bad things get to you."

"Twilight told Applejack and she explained it to us. We're dreadfully sorry to hear about it." Rarity explained.

"Oh...sho they all know." I said smiling, my teeth clenched and eyes wide. "That'sh, that'sh great." I said trying to hold back what my mind was saying. Which was. "FUUUUUUUCK!"

"Since you and yer brother are new here, I could always use a helpin' hoof around the orchard, think you could handle it?" Applejack offered.

"Uh sure I guessh."

"I could always use somepony to do some modeling for me. Very few stallions have your si--er, physique." Rarity smiled.

"No need to be nice about it, jusht shay it. I'm fucking huge."

"Well..." She trailed off.

I smiled down to Twilight. "I don't care."

She smiled back.

"If either of you know anything about little animals, I'd be happy to have some help. If you'd like to that is." Fluttershy offered as well.

"Sure, Kian would have a field day with you." Said thinking fondly of him. "Where is he anyway?" I asked looking back to Twilight.

"I really don't know either." She said looking off, her face showing she was in thought. "Maybe he called it early. I think everypony's already left."

"I guess we should call it a night too."

We smiled to each other and neared the library. We stood outside the front door and looked back to the others. "See you girls tomorrow." Twilight said pushing open the door.

"Good night darling, we'll see you tomorrow." Rarity said trotting off.

"I need to give the chickens their late night snack. Goodbye Twilight." Fluttershy said flapping her wings and slowly floated up through the air.

"Yeah, later." Dash said flying off.

Applejack nodded and walked off, me and Twi waving at them all. I followed her inside and stopped to assess the damage. "Nothing too bad." I said looking around.

"You didn't use the accent back there. Change your mind?"

I thought about it and brought my hoof to my face.

She smiled and trotted toward the stairs. "You coming?" She asked turning back to me.

"Go on ahead." I said looking toward the kitchen. "I need to grab something" I walked toward the kitchen and could hear Twilight clopping steps walk up the stairs. I stepped through doorway, hoping to grab the wine and try to salvage the night. I walked to the counter to see that the bottle was gone and that both the glasses had been nicked too. "Shit."

I sighed and walked out the kitchen and up the stairs, into Twilight's bedroom with my head hanging low.

"Listen, Twi, I got us something but I guess it's gone. Sor-" I stopped at what I saw when I raised my head.

On the night stand was the bottle of wine, opened, and the two glasses were filled beside it. Atop the bed was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.

Chapter 13: Mail time

The early morning sun rose and peaked, sunlight coming through the window. My eyes easing open and shutting from the sting of it's bright rays. I buried my face back into the pillow and into something else soft and silky. I slowly reopened one of my eyes and peaked at what it was. Twilight's navy mane hung off the side of her face and down into mine. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, taking in her scent. I didn't really care we were ponies now, but I did care that she was happy about. I felt something hard poke at my side and moved my hoof down between us. I pulled up the book we had read last night, a few pages wrinkled. I fixed them and closed the book, picking it up in my teeth and reached over her. I set it down beside the glasses, one with a few yellow drops at the bottom. The bottle about a quarter of the way down and resealed.

I hovered back over her and lied back down, reaching a foreleg around her and holding tight. She lied there beside me, curled up, her face nuzzled into my shoulder, the covers over us. I sighed and buried my face back into her mane, lying there breathing quietly. I slept soundly last night, I didn't even dream. "If only I had more of those."

Twi stirred and her eyes opened, gracing me with her beautiful violet. She smiled up to me and nuzzled her face lovingly to my chest. "Morning."

"Morning." I said holding tightly.

"Breakfast?"

"Sure."

I pushed down the covers and we slipped out either side. I stretched and she walked over to her mirror, levitating her brush and adjusting her mane. I twisted my neck, the usual popping clicks going off. She set the brush down a walked away from the mirror coming close. We shared a hug and a quick kiss, smiling at each other. She walked down the steps first, me close behind. We walked out into the open area of the library and into the kitchen. Spike already sat there at the counter with a small bowl of gems, chewing on one. "Morning guys."

"Morning." We said together.

"Hey where's Kian?" I asked.

"Don't know." He shrugged. "Still haven't seen him since last night."

"Where the hell could he be?" I said taking a seat next to him.

"Maybe he's up in the guest room asleep." Twi said going through the cabinets with her magic.

"You know what's weird?" Spike asked looking up to me. "I could'a sworn I saw something pink go out the door this morning early this morning."

I raised a brow and looked down to him.

"I know, right?"

A door behind us opened and a frazzled Kian sat down on the other side of Spike. His mane ruffled and lopsided. He seemed to hold a permanent smirk and held his head up with a hoof. "Orange juice please. Thank you."

"Bro, um, the fuck?"

"Dude seriously, you look rough." Spike added.

"Exactly." He sighed.

I only looked at him with a raised brow, shaking my head.

Twi set a glass of orange juice down by Kian and went back to what she was doing.

"Where were you last night?" I asked.

"Id rather not say." He answered nonchalantly.

I looked at him curiously and Twi set a bowl of oats and dried fruit down in front of me. I looked down to with mixed emotions. "Talk about oatmeal."

"I know it's different than what your used to but, this is what there is." She said with a half smile.

"I know, it's fine, just looks a little..."

"Not fit for consumption." Kian piped in looking at it.

I gave him a death stare and ran a hoof over my mouth. He cringed and went back to looking at his juice.

"It looks fine Twi." I said putting up a smile. I dug my muzzle into the bowl and took in a mouth full of the breakfast, chewing enthusiastically and trying my best to enjoy it. It wasn't that bad compared to what I usually had for breakfast, though I was kinda missing the usual toast and whatever to drink. I swallowed and put up a smile. "Great."

She smiled and sat down with her own.

"Hold on." Spike said bracing himself. Kian looked at him nervously and me and Twi simply watched. Spike let out a loud burp and a ball of green fire and smoke. Kian jumping back and over to the other side of the counter taking cover. A scroll dropped down onto the counter top and Twi levitated it over. A gold seal with the letter C held the red strap around it.

It unfurled and she read it aloud. "Dear Twilight, I must inform you that two more guests will be coming to stay in ponyville for the time being. I request that you show them to their new lodgings and help them fit in. Princess Celestia."

"Two new ponies in town, looks like you guys won't be the only outsiders." Spike said smiling.

"Does it say anything else?" I asked.

"Just where they'll be living. Oh it right by us too, great, new neighbors."

Kian laughed a little at that. "Neighbors."

I dug my face back into the bowl of oats thoughtfully. "So noting about who they are?" I asked chewing.

Twi looked it over again. "Nope."

"Weird." I said swallowing.

"Hold on." Spike said holding a scaled hand to his stomach. Another burp and ball of smoke and fire, leaving another letter. This one was different though, instead of the golden seal it was a silvery color with an L stamped onto it.

Twi levitated it over and opened it, reading. "Oh, it for you." She said as it floated over into my face. "I guess they know you're here too."

"Hmmm." I read it to myself.

Dear foreign subject,

We request an audience with you immediately for private concerns.
More shall be told after your arrival.

Below the writing was a stamped seal with runic markings.

"The fuck?" I said re reading it.

"What?" Twi asked levitating the letter over to read it herself. "That's strange, why would an audience be requested of you?"

I only shrugged and looked at the letter. "The hell is that thing?" I asked pointing a hoof at the runic seal.

"Oh, that, it's a teleportation charm. You just place your hoof on it and away you go." She explained.

"What, like this?" I asked placing a hoof on it. A bright flash and a magic-y sound was all that was left after that.

A wide eyed Kian, a confused Spike, and an intrigued Twilight was all that remained.

Chapter 14: "Aww nuts."

In the flash of magic I was in a dark chamber, similar to Celestia's but with it's own small differences.The only light was a few dim candles around the room. Some of the rugs and tapestries I could see held different designs, the whole room had a different feeling to it. Less morning and daytime and more of a night feel to it. I took a few steps, holding my hoof out to see where I was going. I could hear my steps, softly echoing clops across the marble. The room seemed almost empty, almost. Something in the back of my mind told me I wasn't alone. I heard another set of steps make their way toward me and I froze in place, hoping who ever it was couldn't see me. If this was a royal chamber then I'd be royally fucked if I was caught, I just knew it.

"Hello." Came a soft feminine voice. It sounded familiar but I couldn't place it. Young yet regal, demanding of respect but also sharing of compassion. So familiar.

I held my breath trying not to make any sort of sound.

"We know you are present, are you not?" It said. The dialect sounded familiar as well, that same element to it. I wracked my mind trying to place it. "Where could you be?" It asked itself.

I moved slowly, easing my hoof down. I felt my hoof make contact with something and relaxed a little know it was a rug and my steps would be quieted. A blue glow came from behind me and I tensed, my eyes widening. "FUCK!"

"Ahh, there you." The voice said from behind. "Come, we have much to discuss over your presence."

I slowly turned around to see who it was. At least a few meters away was a dark blue figure not all that much taller than me. She was slender and wore onyx armor similar to Celestia's, but lacking of any visible runic symbols. Instead of a gem in the center a white crescent moon was depicted. On her flank was a dark splotching that also held near the middle the same crescent moon. She held a look like that of Celestia's in her cyan eyes, of kindness and strength. Set behind her long spiraling horn was a smaller tiara made of the same onyx material. On her hooves were silvery blue glass like slippers. I knew she had to be Luna, but something was off about her, something strange. Her mane, instead of the flowing ethereal night sky holding the stars above it was a still and opaque azure.

I couldn't help but tilt my head to the side at her curiously.

"Is there something the matter?" She asked nervously.

"Uhh." I said scratching a hoof to my own mane.

"Oh this." She said looking at her mane as it hung to the side of her head. "Our mane does this upon the sunrise."

"Huh?"

She sigh in irritation. "Upon the morning our control of the night and connection to our power of the moon dims. When that happens our mane does this. Even Tia's mane did this upon dusk before she...filled in for us."

I raised a brow in curiosity.

"We are the one who have brought thee here for interrogation!" She yelled at me.

"Calm it down oh Princess of the night. Don't get your god damn tail in a knot." I exhaled.

"Our tail is clear of all tangles and imperfections." She said giving me a look of pure disdain.

"That's not what I meant." I sighed.

"Then just what did thou mean?" She asked rhetorically.

"Just calm the fuck down, geez. And I'm the one who get's worked up over things. Shit." I exhaled sitting down.

"We are very much thinking twice about bringing thee here." She huffed.

"Well please, send me back. I didn't exactly want to do this. I mean shit, I would've been fine at home with Twilight." I griped.

"Your sleep, was it sound? Void of dreams?" She asked.

"Yeah?" I said raising a brow.

"And you feel at ease? No discomfort or problems?"

"Nope." I said ignoring the Pegasus leering at me behind her. He started slowly nodding and the grin became a tight lipped smile. A shudder ran up my spine at how creepy it was.

"Good." She said walking away. "Take good care of Twilight, she is a friend."

"Does everyone know about me and Twilight." I mumbled.

"Yes, many." She said from across the room.

With another flash and magic-y sound I was back at the kitchen counter beside Twilight who was finishing up breakfast.

"What I miss?" She asked.

"Nothing." I sighed leaving the counter. "Well that was stupid." I thought to myself. "Why the hell would she bring me all the way there just to ask a pointless question? Why the fuck would she ask whether or not I had a dream?"

"As requested, he did not have any nightmares." Luna said from behind her older sister who looked out from the balcony in the direction of Ponyvill.

"Good, thank you sister." Celestia said without turning. Before Luna could leave though, Celestia did turn to face him. "What did he dream of?"

"It was violent, disgusting, horrifying. Even we were pulled into it. His mind is in a very precarious position. He failed at his quest to protect her...He was angry with himself, spiteful of his actions and what the outcome became. He desired his own life to end as well. It was all that he desired, nothing more, nothing less. We ended it before anything so drastic could happen. He doesn't retain any memory of it, as if it never happened."

"How do you know?" She asked looking down to her.

"We asked."

I sat on the couch Lyra style thinking hard. Kian beside me doing the same while staring off with a relaxed smile, Spike laid beside him, gnawing on a green gem with his free arm behind his head. Opposite me was Twi who was curled next to me reading. It boggled me that both princesses had already talked to me in less than twenty-four hours and I'd already succeeded at being a dick to one of them. "Why do always have to be an asshole to people?"

I shook off the thought and tried to be more productive. "I have a whole day ahead of me and no idea what to do. What to do, what to do."

Chapter 15: Damn good night (Kian)

"I think I'll give Kian another day to get used to...all this. I'll probably go to Fluttershy's with him tomorrow. So that narrows it a little. Let's see, helping Applejack with the orchards, or let Rarity use me as a living mannequin. So buck trees and gather apples or stand still for hours and have a suit made for someone like me. Fuck it, apples. I decided.

I gave Twi a quick hug and hopped off the couch, taking a quick stretch and walking toward the door. "See you guys later."

"Where are you going?" Twilight asked

"Gonna see if Applejack needs any help today. She offered some work, so why not?" I said pushing open the door. "And Kian."

"Yeah." He said pulling out of his day dream.

"If Twi asks you do something; do it." With that I closed the door and left.

"I already have a mom, thanks." He mumbled to himself.

Twi only shrugged and went back to her reading.

"Hey Kian, just what were you up to last night?" Spike asked.

"I'll tell you later." Kian said staring off, remembering it fondly.

"I wonder where Pinkie went last night." Twi said holding a hoof to her chin. She moved down from the couch, setting the book on it. "I'm going to check on Pinkie, I think she went home last night." Twilight said trotting toward the door. She pushed it open and closed it behind her

"Alright it later." Kian said eagerly.

"So..."

"Okay so last night I was walking through the kitchen..."

"So then she jumps on top of me and starts making out with me. Now I'm freakin' out and had now idea what was going on. Then she starts rubbing against me..."

"And then she asks me if I could take my turn. So I..."

"And then this morning she was gone." Kian said finishing his story.

Spike only looked at him, jaw slack. He snapped out of it and went back to thoughtfully chewing his gem. "I thought I saw something pink leave this morning."

There was a knock at the door before anything else could be said. They both looked at each other curiously and Kian hopped down from the couch, walking toward the door. He opened it to see who was there. A grey Pegasus with a blonde mane and yellow eyes, wearing a mailbag. What was different about her compared to all the other mares he'd seen was that her eyes crossed, one looking to the lower left and the other toward the upper right.

"Letter for a Kian Mink." She said, her voice soft and almost nasally.

"How would anyone already know my name?" He asked himself with a raised brow.

She only smiled and stared, sort of, at him. He couldn't help himself but wave a hoof in front of her face, neither eyes following it. "So where's the letter?" He asked.

"Oh, right." She said turning to her side.

One of her mailbags popped open with a small light lavender unicorn filly, her mane and eyes a similar color to this mail-mare. She held a letter in her mouth and tossed it to him. "Here you go." She said, her voice slightly squeaky.

Kian tried catching it in his hooves only to fumble about with it and it hit the floor. He stared frustratedly at the small white envelope.

"Have a nice day!" The mail-mare said trotting off without falter.

Kian sighed and pushed closed the door, sliding the letter along the wooden floor back to living room. "Who was it?" Spike asked.

"Mail." Kian said trying to open the letter with his hooves.

"Grey Pegasus, little filly in the bag?" Spike asked curiously.

"Yeah..."

"Oh cool, you met Ditzy and Dinky!" Spike said looking at the letter. "Everyone loves them."

"Yeah, is that grey one retarded or something?" Kian asked still trying to open the letter with his hooves.

Spike only shrugged and hopped down from the couch, picking up the letter. "Fingers make everything easier."

"Tell me about it." Kian muttered angrily.

Spike opened it, only for a shot of confetti and streamers to blast out everywhere, a few balloons floating up from it. Kian stared at the scene wide eyed while Spike simply groaned. "Man, I just cleaned this place up an hour ago."

"Wh- I- ho- huh?" Kian rambled on, looking around himself at all the guff that came from one little envelope.

Spike slipped out the letter and set it down in front of Kian. He sighed and shook off the surprise to read the letter.

I hope this letter finds finds you well,

and that your time was also swell.

I wanted to welcome you to Ponyvill and show you around,

but the amount of things I had to do today would astound.

If you feel your reputation it won't muddy,

I'd like to invite you to be a special f-

His eyes widened at what he just read. He looked at it over and over, hoping he wasn't misreading it. He sat down trying to take in what he just saw himself. A sly smile crept up to his face as he thought about it more and more. A squee sound was made after he was finally in a full blown grin. He looked back down to the letter, reading the last of it.

Your friend and that's no lie,

Pinkie Pie.

Below that was a yellow balloon with a blue string and two blue balloons on either side of it with yellow strings in the lower right corner and beside that was a pink kiss mark.

"What, what's it say?" Spike asked.

Kian hoofed it over to the little dragon and he read it. After a minute Spike looked back up to Kian with a smirk. "Dude."

"I know."

"Dude."

"I know."

"Dude!"

"I know!"

He extended a scaly fist and Kian touched a hoof to it.

Chapter 7: "A city in the clouds...No not like Star Wars dumbass!"

"Come here." Twilight said waving me over with a hoof. I walked a few steps to be right beside her. "Lean in." I leaned in toward her, my face close to hers. "Lower." I Lowered my head a bit, wondering what she was thinking. "Lower." I craned my neck lower to the point where I had to look up to her. "Lower."

"Twilight, if I move any lower I think we should be behind closed doors." I said as my head went below her shoulder height. I could see Kian shake his head from the corner of my eye. I heard above my head, near my ear a wet crunch. "Twi, what are you doing." I asked looking up nervously.

I saw her cute face chewing something and finally noticed the apple stabbed onto my horn, a small bite taken out of it. "They're really good." She said before swallowing. Her horn glowed purple and the apple was surrounded by the glow. I felt a tug on my horn and that same feeling I had when she touch my horn with her hoof. The apple slid of my horn with a slick pop and it floated down. I raised my head to level and the apple floated toward my face. "Here, take a bite." Twilight smiled.

It floated close to my mouth and I opened my mouth wide. It floated a little closer and I bit into it, my teeth piercing the crisp flesh, a small spray of juice dripping out. My teeth went deeper in and finally connected, my decent sized bite taken. The apple floated back to her and I chewed my bite. The soft sweet meat of it tasted amazing as the small pieces of it were ground out by teeth onto my tongue, the best apple I'd ever had to be serious. I chewed and nodded in approval with a swallow. "Pretty good."

The apple floated back to Twilight and she took another bite happily.

Another walk and we had finally found our way to the field that Twilight had lead us to. "Rainbow's home is a lot like Cloudsdale, her hometown."

"What the heck is Cloudsdale." Kian asked beside with Spike on his back still.

"Cloudsdale is, as Twilight said, where Rainbow is from. Same as Fluttershy. It's home to quite a lot of Pegasi for that matter being it's a city of clouds."

Kian looked at me with a confused expression. "What like Star Wars?"

"No not like Star Wars, jesus." I said rolling my eyes. "Less freakin platforms and more actual cloud."

"I don't have the best imagination." Kian said with a sort of "bleh" face.

"You don't have to imagine dumbass." I said pointing a hoof up at her house.

He looked up it with widened eyes and a slacking jaw. A tower in a large cloud with a few dozen windows and columns. A rainbow flowed around it and off the edge of the cloud dissipating before it reached the ground. "Very greek." He said looking it over.

Twilight stepped a little closer to it. "Hello! Rainbow Dash! Anypony!" With no reply she looked back to us.

"Here, let me try." I said walking up beside her. "This is gonna hurt." muttered clearing my throat. "RRAAAAAAIINBOOOOOW DAAAAAAAAAAAASH!" I yelled up to her house, my hooves cupped around my mouth, sort of.

My voice echoed on for miles in all directions and my throat payed for it. I looked back to Twilight breathing heavily.

"Umm...wow." She said looking at me with wide violet eyes. Her face grew a little more concerned. "Are you alright?"

I panted from the exertion of yelling so hard. I never really had to yell in my life and I was known for being loud when I wanted, boy did was. "Throat...hurt...fuck." I wheezed out, my voice soft and strained. I held a hoof to my throat and shut my eyes at how bad my throat burned from it.

Twilight rubbed her hoof along my back. "Take it easy. Don't say anything for a while."

I nodded with a grimace.

Kian looked up at the cloud home. "Still nothing."

Twilight let out an irritated sigh. "Then I guess that leaves Fluttershy." She said walking in the direction of her home.

My hoof clutched to my throat, I followed her with Kian and Spike, greatly wishing I hadn't done anything.

After another long walk we were only a short distance from Fluttershy's cottage. All around it were dozens of fenced pens and animal housings. Kian looked at it intrigued. "Just how many animals does she have with her?"

"Who knows?" Twilight shrugged. We walked across the small bridge and up to her door, Twilight knocking on it. "Hello, anypony home?"

She received no answer and looked back to us with her same frustrated and upset face.

"Five for five." Kian groaned. "Can we just go home?"

"Sure." Twilight sighed looking to the ground.

Kian and Spike walked ahead of us. Twilight walked beside me, her head hung low. I grunted and she looked up. "Huh?" I lifted my foreleg around her neck and held onto her while we walked. She smiled sadly. "Thanks but... if everypony's been missing me then why is it we can't seem to find anypony? Where could they all be?" I tilted my head to side a bit thoughtfully. "You don't think they're still all looking for me, do you?" I only shrugged with no idea myself.

We walked down the pathway back to Ponyvill together quietly. "Great first day huh?"