Staring at my computer I was going through the motions of it all again. Checking my web sites like Deviant Art, Face book, EQD, FA, tumbler, and other web comics. Leaning back in my chair, I glanced over at the second monitor and looked over the other open windows. Weather? Not much for the next day. Skype? Well, some folks are on, but let’s face it. Who would I feel okay to bother out of the blue? Shaking my head I just sigh, combing my fingers through my short red hair.

“Hold up!”

Looking around I suddenly feel as if I had done this all before. Slowly sitting back up in my chair I look through my computer room’s door. Nothing but the sound of people, I don’t remember inviting anyone, who is in my house? Pulling myself to my feet I walk out into my dining room to see my friends walking into the room looking around. Each of them looked, distraught. Like how after looking all over for something they start all over again at the first place that would be checked just to be sure nothing had changed or missed. With a bit of a chuckle I step forward out of the hallway to greet them. “Hay guys! what’s up? Did Tom forget his glasses? You have got too keep a hand on them sometimes I swear man. ”

The four friends spread out around the dining table without so much as a word to me. Ok did I break something again? “ummm, hello?” looking from the tall gangly blond to the short girl with black hair, I reached out waving my hand in front of her face. “Clair please stop this. The joke is old now.” The woman’s long black hair shimmered as she turned away putting a hand to her mouth as if to hold back her tears.

“He is still not back, I don’t think he is ever going to come back at this point.” Tom points out as Clair turns to rap her arms around him, pressing her face into his chest. Looking around the room and past me Tom just sighs. “looks like the same as always, nothing moved.”

“But he has to! How could he just up and leave like that?!” a tinge of anger could be heard in Clair’s voice just behind all the sadness as she presses her face back into tom’s chest. I step back, my smile faded as fear started creeping into my face as I look over to the second girl. She was kind of round but about the same height as the first girl with short jet black hair. Reaching out to her I hesitate as she spins around to look at the two holding one another.

“We need to keep looking just in case he pops back up.” Rachel shrugs a bit looking off toward the third story loft. “Maybe he will change his mind or just come back like nothing happened.” She shrugged again as she looked to the final friend of the group. Yet another woman who was just slightly taller than the first girl but nowhere near as tall as Tom who was still holding Clair. She walked right past me and down the hall. It took me a moment before I turned around to follow her to see where she was headed.

“Sam,” I whispered just enough for her to hear as she stopped and looked into my bedroom. “Please.” I begged “Say you can hear me. This is starting to hurt too much.” Holding my belly with one arm as if my innards where spilling out I reached to her shoulder with my free right hand. As my hand came to rest on her shoulder it simply phased through like a ghost. Eyes going as wide as dinner plates I watched her as I took a frightened step back. “I’m not here.” I mumbled to myself as I started to shake with a gripping sadness and cold fear. But just before Sam turned around there was a sudden blue flash that enveloped everything in the house.

Blinking to clear the blindness from my eyes I realized I was back in the dining room and all my friends where around the table playing Magic the Gathering. I could feel something was off but I had no clue as to what. Instead I was filled with overwhelming joy. “Oh I see! So no one is going to ask me to join?” I huffed in mock anger and all four of them spun to look at me and laugh.

“You know we love to kick your ass man.” Tom boasted as Clair gently pushed him.

“Oh shut up! You know you whine when you get thrashed.” Clair beamed. With a grin I sat down at my place at the table and drew my cards. Looking to Sam next to me to see what she played I spotted something odd. She had three spells sitting and stacked on the table as if she thought they were mana. With a slight wince I hatched a small plan and looked to my hand. I set down a mana, tapped it and set out a strong monster that should have taken over ten times that amount to summon. I wonder if this is what I think it is. Knocking on the table to signal my turn was done I look to Rachel and nod.

Taking a card and looking at what I just done the woman blinks in faux surprise and sighs “Man how am I going to beat that?! Oh I know! Full house! Read’m and weep boys!” she slams down her entire hand and grins like she had won a championship. Blinking in surprise I look back to Sam who is just staring at me astonished by the win, not a single word out of her mouth. I know she is much more talkative then that, so much more. What is going on? Looking back stunned at the strange turn of events Rachel just grinned at me. “I win and you know what that means right?” I slowly shake my head wondering what kind of game did they think it was? This is Magic the Gathering, not some poker game.

Rachel lightly punches my shoulder as she shouts “you have to tell me your secrets now!” looking back to the other three they were all leaning in as if I hand the secret to the world. “Ok, now tell us how guns are made.” with a quick turn back to Rachel I glared and started to get mad as a light bulb clicked in my mind.

“What is my name Rachel?” looking at her she blinked and leaned back in her chair.

“Hey now, you tell me things, not you asking me-“

I cut her off slamming my hand onto the table as I got up. “WHAT IS MY DAMMED NAME?!” shooting a glare to Sam I bare my teeth “Why have you not said a word? You talk more then all of them combined!” looking back to Tom and Clair I hiss threw my teeth. “What the hell kind of game is this?! It sure as hell ain’t Magic!” with that something pulled at my heart like a thin wire, almost like with the portal. With a hitch in my breath I fell to my knees and backwards as the wire seemed to pull at my heart, making it feel like lead in my chest. As I fell back towards the hard wood floor I spotted something faint out of the corner of my eye up in the loft as everything suddenly flashed out of existence and I was falling threw a black starry night.

Face down in a white pillow my eyes shot open only to reveal the pillow in front of me. Wiggling in the bed a bit to feel the soft warm embrace so similar to my bed back home I glare into the fabric and mumble “I have been fed this lie before. I’m in a hospital again! Bloody hell!” lifting my head slowly I spot that I was indeed in another yet another hospital. Though looking out the window I could see night had fallen and the moon was out. Rolling over and sitting up so that I could I take in the room. I spot a mare standing in the door way just before the room lit up as the lights flashed on. My eyes twitching from the sudden shift in light. I mumble “Ouch~”

“Now tell me Mr Blank, just how many times am I going to have to pull you back from death? And what was that chanting I heard not a moment ago? Do you know another language?” she tapped her hoof to her chin as she tried to pronounce something. “{Rach heel?} What does that mean?” it was odd but I could actually tell she was pronouncing a human word, a human English word just by repeating what she heard? Rubbing my head with one hoof I shake my head.

“One: I have no clue what you are talking about, that sounds like gibberish to Me.” unholy lies!!! Also she pronounced that name wrong. “Two: well I don’t know how many times this will happen to me, though, I kinda would have preferred that it would have been my last thing I did. Third and final,” I looked at the mare with a beaten-by-a-long-day look. “Can I just leave and just go home? That is if I’m clear to leave by ya word miss heart.” I glance at my front leg and spot a bandage where the blood or IV needle would have been. Hope blood type is a known thing here, or does it matter here? I wondered to myself.

The mare stared at me for a moment and it was starting to get odd. The look in her eyes told me she was thinking something over. It almost looked like it was a cross of concern and some wonder. Before I could analyze more she looked away and shrugged. “You had lots of deep cuts, punctures wounds, possibly a cracked vertebra, and major blood loss. You have a few new stitches and more blood in you now so you are clear to go. Just take it easy for a day or two. If you feel sick or lightheaded just sit down for a little and eat something. Your back will recover in a few days, a week perhaps.” Stepping over to my bed side she helps me out of the bed and to my hooves. “Now be careful tonight. You just need sleep to get your blood back to normal but until then you may be a bit light headed. Oh and so you know, the princesses where here and Miss Sparkle, but you did not wake in time. So they left just as the sun set. You sure have some strange set of friends.”

“I have no friends here in this world.” I deadpanned “The unicorn has not gotten that threw her head yet and I think cake flank just wants to pick my brain for information. And she is not getting it. As for Princess Luna? Hell If I know why she was around.” I muttered that last bit focusing on my hooves not slipping out from under me as I slid off the bed with her help.

With a furrowed brow and a harsh glare the nurse shakes her head “It is not a good idea to speak of the princesses in that tone Mr. Blank. The princess did try to take that thing away from your side but it seemed to be stitched to you somehow. Lifted your entire body just trying to remove it.” she points to the KSG still on my side and sighs as she puts a hoof to her cheek. “Seeing as we could not remove it at all and twilight insisted we not try any more, something about more harm than good. We left it alone and worked around it. Was not easy.” looking to my right side I could see my shot gun in its place and bandages weaving in and out from under it.

“Ya that would be my odd keep sake.” With a flicker of magic the gun floated right in front of my face and I ran a hoof over it. “Sadly I think its run its course at this point.” There was a hint of sadness in my voice that I hoped red heart would not hear but that was wishful thinking. In a flash of speed it was right back on my side again and with a gentle crimson glow it affixed itself back to my flank in its holstered position. With a nod I thanked the nurse as she helps me into a wheel chair. After placing a hoof on my shoulder, withers? She smiles gently and nods as if to hint that she knew that I was hiding something and she knew it, but thankfully would not press that matter. With that the nurse pushes me out of the Ponyville hospital. “I feel like I should say something along the lines of. “See ya latter Miss Heart, but I feel that will sound wrong.”

With a chuckle she nods “well if that’s how it is going to be with you, I will keep Dr. Horse ready for you and I will be sure to look after you. And I think you will make friends whether you want to or not.” As I slip out of the chair and stretch a bit I wave a little as she pushes the wheel chair back into the building. As she walks back I could swear I could see her looking back at me with a strange smile across her muzzle, at that distance though, I could not identify it. With a sigh and shrug I start my way back to the library.

“So help me if I start to know them as my friends before too long. I will do what I can to keep from making friends in a place I don’t belong in. I’m going to get back home somehow. Don’t think I’m going to be good for this world anyhow.” Escaping the lights that shone from the medical building I started to smile as I admired the night. Walking through the quiet town was surreal to me, calming even. The bandages covering my hind end, neck, and legs where making my movements slow and stiff, but it could not dampen the night’s effect on my being. Looking up into the cold air and slowly breathing out to see my breath something moved overhead.

Tilting my head as I looked up into the dark night sky I could not see what it was flying, but rather I saw the void it made as it blocked out the stars behind it as it flew below them. As I watched what looked like a large bird fly off silently into the night it started me to wondering about the dream and the odd turn it had taken. Like something had pulled it away from the story that my mind was creating and tried to make up a new better one, and failed hard. Letting my mind wonder a bit I just barely realized I was passing the carousel boutique.

My ears twitching pulled me from my contemplating state of mind as I heard something splinter slowly. Like wood being stressed as something big slowly pressed on it. I found myself tilting my head and stretching my neck out to my right as if too look around the round building. Walking as quietly as I could as I made my way around giving a wide berth so as to stay far away from the building itself. Spotting the back door of the shop I also saw a faint light and a figure clad in black. It was odd to me that this figure needed a flashlight, I could see everything just fine by the light of the moon over head. “Is there something ya need from Rarity buddy? I don’t know the emergency but I’m sure if it’s about a dress she may oblige to help. Just ring the front bell.” I asked as I took a step closer.

The beam of light pans over right into my face blinding me for a moment. As I winced and put up a hoof to block some of the light I could hear the stallion stutter as he responded. “W-what! Umm, N-no! It’s nothing.” With that the stallion backed away before completely turning around and bolting. I could see the flashlight go out just before he continued galloping away and around a far off building. Shaking my head I started to turn away myself before a light was cast down from an upper window of the boutique stopped me.

I saw two pale hooves push up the sash of the window as a mare stuck her head outside to see what was going on. “What is going on out there? Cant a mare get some sleep at this ungodly hour?” Rarity’s voice was just as proper and smooth as normal, Have to admit that it sounds much better in person, pony I mean, then through a T.V.

I could not help but grin and I bow a bit to the purple manned mare. “I do apologize for the disturbance miss. There was but a slight misunderstanding as to your hours of business. Said problem has been settled and resolved. You may go back to your dreams now miss Rarity. But when you wake I must ask that you strengthen the security and doors of your establishment.” Not going to lie but this was kinda fun.

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes ever so slightly “Is that so, well, I must see to it I know who helped out in this matter. Do be a dear and stay right there for me. I would like a word with you.” she ducked back inside to ready herself.

I simply grinned and nodded “As you wish miss” with a twitch of my tail I turned and started to trot off into the night. “Maybe later Rarity.” I whispered to myself as I trotted down the path to Twilights home. After putting some distance between me and the boutique I looked over my shoulder to see Rarity open the door that I was just standing before and I grinned even more. Looking around she eventually spotted me in the dark distance but not before I rounded the corner of a building and was gone into the night. I did kinda like to mess with others in this kind of subtle way. I would maybe like to meet her at some point, just not in the dead of night after I scared away some burglar.

Just as I had passed a familiar looking joke shop in the shape of a jester’s hat I felt light headed from the trot and just stopped to sit down. One hoof ran through my main as I looked around the still town then looked up into the sky with a happy sigh. I really did love the night, so calm and no one around to kill it with talking. “Hurk!” the hell was that? letting my head fall back down I looked around to see a light blue pegasus mare holding one hoof to her mouth and looking like she was about the throw up.

“umm can I help you miss?” I said slightly softer than a normal talking tone as I got to my currently shaky hooves. Sadly this aggravated my low blood level and I promptly sat right back down holding my head in one hoof.

Eyes wide the pony shook her head violently and stepped back right before launching herself into the air and flying away. As the winged horse ducked behind a building I could just barely make out the sound of her empting the contents of her stomach. “Well, that happened.” Finding myself starting off into the distance I simply got up, having recovered from my dizzy spell, and continued on. It would not take me long to finally make it too the golden oaks library and my place below its canopy and balcony. This was nowhere near home for me but at the moment it was all I had. More tired than anything it was all too easy to simply flop onto the fantastically soft cool grass and drift off to sleep. Had I known any better I would say I was asleep before my eyes had closed.

Sleep would be ever elusive as the nightmares racked my mind yet again that night. And just like before the nightmares would take a sudden turn into something I could not believe was fully my minds doing. I could see this becoming a problem for me and I was not happy about this.

Waking up with a jolt as I was ejected from yet another false dream ending was more of a relief at this point then a pain. Gods, three nightmares in a row and I’m already fearing sleep. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes as those words echoed in my head I sighed. Slowly stretching my neck and four legs I found I had woken up just after sunrise. I wonder if Twilight or Spike was making anything right now? Man I need to get away from them more and not be so dependent on them. Just then a pain shot threw my right side as I had stretched my back leg. Hissing at the pain I moved to rub the afflicted flank with one hoof to find something peeking out from under the mass of bandages on my butt.

Not wanting to peel back the gauze and tape I instead craned my neck more to get a different angle only to find out that it looked like a picture of a box corner, the rest still covered by bandages. Taking a slight gasp I flip myself over to my left side and flinched as my bandaged side pressed to the ground. It was worth the pain to reveal my unmarred, non-bandaged flank and the picture that lay upon it. Poking it with a hoof so to make sure it was real I slowly grin to find the picture of a simple small box with two shotgun shells sitting next to it. “Pff” I rub my face again as I pulled myself up and onto my hooves. “Looks like I am, in fact, a citizen of equestria. Gods have mercy if this stays when I get home.” Something started to pull at my mind as I realized this and I could almost make out something from it. Seeing as I was hungry this would have to hold off for a moment until I got food.

I trotted over to the front door and stopped just before reaching the handle. It was fixed from when I had stormed off and blown a hole into it with my firearm. Only realizing that just now as my ears laid back. Glancing back to the gun on my side I shrugged and pushed the door open. “Not like it will happen again anyhow.” I grumble to myself as I wander into Twilight’s and Spike’s home. Gently closing the door, as if to make up for slamming it before, my ears twitch and I look around the main lobby. Ears swiveling I could make out another voice coming from the kitchen/dining room. Being as quiet as I could be with hooves I make my way to the door way.

“-so I opened the window to find this strange stallion just sanding at my back door! It was simply creepy considering it was so late.” Rarity tossed her long purple main to one side and took another sip from the tea cup in her magical grasp. “So I asked him what was going on at that ungodly hour. He was so polite I almost thought I was still asleep darling.”

Twilight chuckled a little as she bit into a slice of toast covered in jam. “So? What happened?” she nudged the fashionista on.

“Well, he bowed and told me how there was a small problem about somepony getting my business hours mixed up and then recommended I make my shop more secure. I saw no pony but him so naturally I got suspicious. So I asked the stallion to stay put so that I may come down and have a chat with him. But when I opened the door he was gone!” the white mare rested her head on one hoof and sighed.

This was about the time I realized the two were facing away from me and the kitchen. I could grab something and not be seen. “I looked around and could barely make out that stallion off in the dark just before he was out of sight.” Rarity continued as I found the plate of toast and started spreading some jam I found nearby onto it. “It was a shame too,” she continued “He looked strange and mysterious, covered in bandages and carrying something on his side. Oh I Thought I was dreaming for sure until this morning.” As silently as I possible I bit into the jam covered toast. Making the corners of my mouth lift in an oh so subtle smile.

Tilting her head the purple unicorn looks at her friend from over her toast and spots me out of the corner of her eye. A small grin slipped over her lips as the connections began to click as she saw my bandages. “What do you mean a dream until this morning?” the librarian prodded again as she looked back to Rarity before said seamstress could spot the unicorns eyes looking else ware.

With a gentle sigh the fashion mare shrugs a bit. “For starters he was quite handsome as far as I could see in the dark, tall but not too tall. He was on the slim side but not for it to be unhealthy. His main could have used some work of course. And those bandages, why was he so covered by them? ” As Rarity mused my ears simply twitched as I listened in. “Then this morning I saw the threshold of my back door had been deeply scratched up my something. I don’t think that stallion was trying to get in but I suspect from what I heard before I got to the window that he had scared of the ruffian who was.” The unicorn’s main bounced as she shivered realizing this fact.

I had finished one slice of toast and had started on another, the entire time I was not facing the two mares but looking out the window just over the sink. That little tug in my mind from before suddenly made scene. Rarity’s story had brought to light something that had also happened before in the forest. Could not remember most of what happened then but one fact was suddenly plain as day. I wonder if I am meant to protect them? I wondered. On top of that I could make out another little detail that would make me see I was more a pony then I thought. As if it was my new mark telling me what was meant for me.

Twilight was all but giggling at this point just as rarity raised an eyebrow to her sudden elation. “The worst part of this is I did not get the stallion’s name. Just my luck some pony like that shows up and is gone without a trace, not even a name”

“Ballistic Volley.” I nonchalantly spoke, still not looking at the mares as I could spot a familiar light blue pegasus glide by outside. Well she looks better than the last time I saw her, not all barffy at least.

“EPP!” Rarity squeaked as she all but jumped into the air. The lavender mare just spun in surprise to look at me in shock. “Who are-?” the dress maker froze as she turned to see the stallion she was just talking about standing just behind her.

Twilight started to smile as she caught a glimpse of my cutie mark. “So that’s the name you have decided to use? Well its better then blank space.” looking back to her toast she takes another bite and follows it up with a sip of her tea. “Now would you care to explain what happened out in the Everfree Forest the other day? Celestia wants me to give her a report.” A bit of parchment and a quill appeared in front of her, ready to take notes.

Quickly munching through another bit of jammed toast I gently glare at the librarian. “What! That was you who saved lotus?” Just before I could open my mouth to express my retaliation of telling anything to sun butt, I was interrupted by Rarity’s shocked response. Tilting my head to her as she covers her mouth surprised at what she just blurted out. “Sorry dear. But you mean to tell me you are the brave mystery pony who jumped out of nowhere to fight back five timber wolves just to save dear Lotus Blossom? How in Equestria could you have done that? Why you barely look injured.”

Looking over my bandages and new stitches my head shakes back and forth. “Deep lacerations, massive blood loss, cracked spine,” I paused looking deep into Rarity’s eyes “And a near death experience that twilight pulled me back from? Forgive me miss Rarity but I don’t think I got out unharmed” the mares ears lay back as rarity rubbed the back of her neck. Twilight tilted her head a moment latter in confusion.

“I did not call you back. I was back here and was worried but I had no clue what happened to you or where you were for that matter until Lotus ran back saying some crazy stallion helped her get away.” Looking to her tea the mare shrugs. “I have no idea what I could have done to even help.”

Biting into another slice of plain toast this time I nodded. “Well someone called me to come back “home” but I guess that does not matter now.” Trudging over to the table the white mare used her magic to fill me up a cup of tea to which I nodded thanking her for the drink as I sat down. “Well I guess I can explain myself and after that let rarity know why she needs to get thicker doors.”

“Yes well,” Rarity cleared her thought. “Knowing why you were around my home so late at night would be nice, and a description of the pony to keep an eye out for would be most helpful.”

“Well after I explain what happened in Everfree I will explain why that may not happen.” After picking up the cup gently in my hooves I Take a long sip from the cup and I gently smile as the warm liquid flows down my throat. “Wow that’s good. Ok so Twi, where do I start?” I take another sip and close my eyes to enjoy the drinks flavor.

“Well,” the book horse taps the quill on the rim of an ink pot that had materialized out of the ether as she thinks about what she last remembers. “Oh, you can start off with how you got past and away from the guard that was sitting right next to you.” Opening one eye to stare down twilight from behind my cup I sigh.

“No, that sounds like Celestials’ question. I can start just after that for you. But I’m not giving away something that may save my hide one day from that solar flank.” I could see a tinge of anger in her eyes as I spoke that way about her mentor. “Sorry Twi.” Another sip of the tea and I set it down with a gentle clack of the ceramic. “Well from what I know of Everfree you have to be smart and work with what you have at that moment. That or be quick about gathering resources. Seeing as no one wanted to jump, well, I did. Not smart in hindsight but I now know that the Everfree is much more unforgiving then I had known.”

“What do you mean by that?” rarity spoke up dropping a sugar cube into a fresh cup of tea.

“The forest I thought I knew, was kinda, nicer. Any pony that would go in just got scared out of their shoes or disappeared. Nothing too gory, and those who were scared just got out by running. Thought I could handle it easily with my gun. So off I ran to try and find Miss Lotus. Was not hard ether seeing as there is only one path in and out of the forest from the Ponyville side at least. So I just ran the trail until I ran into her.” I took another sip and drained the cup of its warm essence.

Quill twitching about over the parchment as she looks up to me from behind the scroll. “So what you knew of the forest is much different from the real one? Hmm, so then what happened? We know you charged in and shot a few scaring Lotus right out of her hide.”

“The poor dear said there was a loud bang from that thing you carry and one of the wolves just fell apart. How is that possible? Was it a magic spell perhaps?” Rarity interjects between sips.

Floating the KSG from my side it hovers just in front of my face enveloped in my crimson aura as I inspect the weapon, poking it with a hoof here and there. “This is what is called a gun, shotgun to be precise. It can hurl projectiles at unbelievable speeds and cause devastating damage. So yes one shot was all I needed to dispatch the timber wolves, but,” letting my head drop a bit my hoof gently comes to rest on the top of the floating firearm. “The wolves can regenerate even after a shot from this. After clearing a path for Lotus to escape I found it much harder to get away without the element of surprise no longer helping. With five of them I found myself using far more shells then I thought. An opening was presented to me and I ran, and after a time I thought I had made it out so I made the mistake of dropping my guard.” The mares shivered with ideas of what was going to happen in the story.

“Well?” twilight and rarity exclaimed in perfect harmony.

I looked up and regained my composure as I used my hoof to flick off some twigs crammed deep in the crevices of the gun. “The Timberwolves are much smarter then I want to believe. Using devastating teamwork all of them jumped me at the same time and launched me into a tree some thirteen feet away.” A shiver ran down my spine as that number left my lips and I remembered that snapping sound my back made. “My last round missed its mark and I was left with nothing. I can’t seem to use magic other than to hold this thing, not too strong ether so I was defenseless. One pony and five Timberwolves?” looking past my gun at the two I mumbled. “What do you think happened? I was played with. Slow bites and left to bleed out to within an inch of my life.”

“Well you are still alive dear so you must have done something.” Rarity chimes in after a short silence. “Surely you did something to win the day and make it back?” at this point Twilight had sopped writing notes and was listening intently to my little flash back.

“That’s just it. I remember them fighting over who would get to, well kill me I guess, that or revenge. But I blacked out, no clue what I-“ I posed a moment “did? Hold up.” Something caught my eye inside my gun as I was inspecting it and I held it up vertically to see inside the feed and eject opening on the bottom of the gun. A crimson glow grasps the pump and slams it back ejecting the last shell. My left hoof shot up and caught the shell before it could fall to the floor. My pupils shrank and my eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. My magic flickers and drops the gun on the table as I examined the round.

The girls shriek and jump a bit as the heavy gun falls and clatters on the table in front of them. “Volley! Watch what you are doing! That scared us!” Twilight shouts as her friend nods, Rarity slowly letting go of the librarian’s leg closest to her. Soon she took note of my eyes darting back and forth from my hoof and the gun. “Volley? Did you remember something? What is wrong?”

“Fifteen shells.”

“I’m sorry dear? Come again?” Rarity leans forward with a hoof to one ear.

Slowly looking up to the mares’ then back to my hoof “When I came to this world, your world. My gun was full. It has a fifteen shell capacity fully loaded. Only slugs and buck shot where inside. This is a sixteenth shell.”

“You could have miscounted. Understandable considering the circumstances” The book pony points out.

“Possible but not likely this time.” I turn my hoof to show a yellow shell covered in blood and some marred words on the side. “This is a round called dragon’s breath, a shell that fires magnesium projectiles. I. DID. NOT. HAVE. THIS.” I dropped the shell on the table and some of the dried blood flakes off. “And I think that’s my blood seeing as timber wolves seem to have sap or some ooze like gunk.”

“Ok” twilight grimaces at the bloody shell and taps her chin. “So you have a shell in your gun you did not have before. Are you positive?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well then, unless you remember anything after you blacked out then I guess this will stay unsolved.” just then the shell pops and vanishes in a cloud of red mist. In that moment it was clear to me. Like someone turning on the lights in a dark room to show an art gallery.

“After my near death something called and pulled me back to the living.” I slowly looked down to my bandaged flank. Reaching down I started to pick at the bandage and peel back the gauze. “I awoke to see one of the wolves clamping down on my neck with their mouth to choke Me.” the two mares gasped as I peeled half the bandage away from my side. Blood soaking the inside and gleaming as the teeth marks continued to heal beneath.

“Volley! Cut that out! What are you doing to yourself? Do you want an infection?” Twilight calls out yet again as Rarity puts a hoof to her mouth in disgust.

With a quick flick I rip off the rest of the bandage and wince in pain as my flank lets me know how bad an idea that was. “There was a flash as I pulled up my gun and loaded something inside. I think I know where that shell came from.” I could now see my right sides cutie mark that the bandages had been covering. Same as the other side but the blast scar from the transformation had mired the mark near it. Shells gone completely but the box now looked like someone had torn it open. Placing one hoof to the tender flesh the mare’s just watched in sickening confusion. Moving to grab anything I pulled my hoof away quickly to reveal nothing more them my hoof.

“Well that was surprising.” Rarity deadpanned “sorry was something supposed to happen just now?” she leans back into her chair as I try again and again, each time nothing happens.

“Ok that’s enough. Quit poking your wounds and cover them back up. You don’t want to get infected do you?” twilight was starting to sound like a mom to me if she kept it up.

“Where else would that have come from? My shells are not of this world and you saw that last one disappear just now. The other ones are still around somewhere, something is not right and this is the only idea I have, ok? So if you have any other plans then let me know. I remember I was laying there and I just. Look I’m not sure ok?” I looked forward to the gun and whined in defeat. Absentmindedly I reached to my right again and there was a gentle pop as I tossed a round onto the table was a clunk. Everyone in the room froze and stared at the red plastic and brass cylinder. “So I can’t think about it then?” I tried again but this time there was no shell produced. “Guess not.”

Twilight just looked back and forth with a light shrug. “Well it looks like a summoning spell to me. But if that is not of this world as you say, then where are you summoning it from?”

“Pff heck if I know,” during this time I had not stopped trying to pull more shells. “But if it gives me back to use of my KSG then I’m all for it!” the thirteenth attempt had rendered yet another 12 gauge slug. “See? I think I kinda get how it works.” Another failed attempt. “Ok I will need to work on this.” Reaching out and grabbing back my gun from where it had fallen I nab one shell and slide it into the first feed tube of the gun. It felt as if something deep in my mind was slowly nudging me on what to do. Was it my new cutie mark? Or something else?

Reaching for the second shell I find it missing. “Hmm?” looking back to the table I spot Rarity holding the round in her magic examining it. “RARITY! NO! DROP THAT!!!” looking up just a bit from the shell the mare eeps as I use my magic to swing my gun like a bat to swat away the round out of her grasp.

The lavender pony pops up after she had ducked from behind a chair to see the round rolling on the floor across the kitchen “Good heavens?! Was that really necessary? I was just looking at it, that’s all!” slipping off my chair I walk over to the round and pick it up. Moments later it is slipped into the shotgun safe from others.

“Those little things are dangerous Rarity.” Twilight sighs and gets back onto her chair. “Just one can do massive harm all by itself.” I turn to walk back in such a way that shows off my defaced flank to the upstanding lady just before the firearm finds its way to me and sticks to my flank, covering said scar.

“Don’t mix gunpowder and magic. It explodes if you do. Just, just pick them up with your hoof, but not by magic.” I warn as I take my seat back at the table.

“Well,” the mare prims her main to cover up her scared look. “Back to the story I must admit something.” She looks over to the book horse “What is magnesium that our friend here mentioned?”

“I don’t have any friends in this world, understand?”

Looking back at me twilight lays her ears back. “Still don’t want to make friends hmm? Well Rarity, magnesium is a metal that can catch fire. When it burns it is so hot not even water can extinguish the fire. In fact it can make it worse” the mare’s ears pop back up in a slight surprise “so burning a timber wolf will kill it? Why did I not think of that before?”

“Hard to think when you are running for your life.” I respond.

“Yes, well, it is good to know that we now know how to push back those brutes.” the white mare nods. “Maybe now you can explain why you were at my home in the dead of night?” setting her tea cup down for the last time she looks towards me quite intent on my response. Miss Sparkle followed her lead but with a bit more of a blank look.

“Simple,” using my hooves I slowly pour myself yet another cup of tea. “I was on my way back from the hospital last night when I was released and I found myself walking by your home.” Setting the teapot down and taking a sip from the fresh cup I hummed happily. “There was a stallion, clad in black, trying to force his way inside your establishment threw the back door and I scared him off.” Before I could give it more thought I reached back and pulled another shell out of my side “Ha!” loading it into my gun quickly I take another sip of tea. “Hence why I recommended beefing up the doors and locks.”

Rising one eye brow the fashion designer sighs. “So, a burglar thinks he can steal from me? Well I must say I’m not pleased by this. But it is not the first time. Very well.” the mare gets up and looks right at me with those sapphire eyes and smiles gently like she has a plan. “First I must thank you for what you have done. Will you come with me so that I may pay back this debt?”

Eyeing the pony and taking a long sip from my tea I shake my head just a bit. “I have done nothing to garner your generosity for which you are so known. So no.” To keep from getting lulled into something by her looks I turn my head to twilight as if to start an important conversation, only to see her shooting me a mad look. “What?” and did I just look away to not fall for the looks of a pony? I’m human, I’m human, I’m human.

“Done nothing!” Rarity steps back in shock. “Sir, you single hoofedly saved the life of my friend Lotus Blossom.” Her hoof pokes at my side as if to point this out, to which I wince in pain. “So I wish to thank you in my own way. Are you going to be so rude as to decline a gift from a lady? Or will you accept?” I did not need to look to know she was batting her eyelashes at me in an attempt to lure me in. I’m human, I’m human, I’m human.

Still looking to twilight I silently try to get her on my side. I should not be surprised to know it would not work at all. She was glaring at me instead and gesturing me to accept the gift. Scrunching up my face I turn just my eyes to look at the element of generosity. “It was nothing ok? I’m not looking for praise or gifts so just put that out of your mind now, ok?” there was a slight glow from Twilights horn as she conjured a spell to slap me upside the head. As the force was to hit me it simply washed over my head and dispersed into the air. Rubbing my head in confusion as it just made my head tingle the mare blinks and grumbles. The next time she just hits me with the spine of a big book instead. “OUCH! Ugg fine, I get it!” I role my eyes and my hoof is now rubbing the bump on my skull. “Ok Miss Rarity, I will accept your gift.” Lowering my head in defeat all I could do was grumble. Can’t be friends with the main six, come hell or high water. Not as long as I know their fates, even if the elements try to force it, well except pinkie. That is a battle I’m NOT going to fight.

“Excellent!” her pale manicured hooves clap together as she reaches for my foreleg to pull me away. Pulling said leg away I shake my head a bit as I get off the seat on my own terms instead of being pulled into a fall off the chair to the floor. Rarity puffed up in a bit of anger that I shook off the small show of her affection. My ears swivel to pick up a sigh from twilight as I follow miss Rarity out the door and to her shop. Looking over my shoulders I could see her shaking her head and looking over to a sleepy spike, who just woke up. The librarian was looking worried, like she was about to fail a test. Will have to ask about that latter.

“Come along Mr. Volley, it is rude to keep a mare waiting you know” she was standing just outside the door and making a pouting face. “Most would jump at the chance dear.”

“Well I’m not most.” looking forward I start out the door pulling it shut behind me. Truth be told I was worried about Sparkle, but hiding that fact will have to stay a priority. Right now it’s best to just get this thing with rarity over with then back to the library to try and sort out when the session two opener would start. Discord is going to be a pain to avoid if at all possible.

The walk to Rarity’s boutique was mostly silent, but that’s not to say it was boring. As we walked through town with just about every other pony looking at me funny the mare I was following followed suit. Looking back at me almost threw me in a way, after a moment she smiles and speaks up. “So tell me, where are you from? Surly you can’t be just a drifter that happened to be in the right place at the right time.“

I wonder if it would have been easier to just say yes I was. That I happened to be in the right place at the right time. No, then things would go south when she talked to twilight more and found out how I’m camping outside the library and such. “Well I’m from out of town, heck it would be safe to say that I’m not from this land. Getting pulled here was not my doing as well, forced here is more like it.“

“Is that so?” the seamstress ponders a moment before her next question is formed. “How about miss Sparkle? You and her seem to know one another, care to explain how some pony from so far away as you put it, knows her?”

Aww man, how can I put this so I don’t have to explain I watch a show about them. Time to spin the truth. “well remember how I said I was forced here?” the marshmallow nods “Well in a simple way to put it. I’m part of an assignment from Celestia. If you want to know more about that, ask her or twilight yourself. I’m not elaborating on that anymore.” Out of the corner of my mind I mutter to myself. Wonder if I can pull a slug right now. Trying not to think about it too much I reach back and surprisingly pull a slug shell from my flank. Cool! It worked right! Loading it into my gun I continue on. “Bit of a burden if you ask me.”

Blinking away the confusion the unicorn trots up alongside me and poked my gun with one hoof “There is more to this and you that is not being told my dear Volley.”

Lifting my head up a bit I nod “There is, and always will be, more to it than that. Only time will tell how much I will tell you six and the princesses.”

“Six? My friends?” the seamstress blinks. “How do you know about the six of us? Have you seen the others already?”

Shaking my head I look back to the mare “Not yet but I have met-“ stopping suddenly I slowly look to my left, like somepony was pulling my head. All I was met with was a blinding pink mare with the biggest smile and a silly looking pink cart with balloons and a big red button on its front just behind the falling tongue of the wagon. “Pinky! It’s about time!” With a grin I face the baker and lower my torso down like a puppy ready to play and letting my short tail flick back and forth. “Ok what have ya got for me!?”

Rarity watched on, shocked yet again at my sudden change of face. She must have assumed this was just Pinky’s doing as she slowly stepped back. “Well your new in town so I wanna give you the “welcome to Ponyville” treatment!” the hyper mare sing sang. “You’re my newest friend so I want you to smile and feel welcome!”

I could feel my eyes widen as I looked past the pink mare to her cart and giggled. “Is that what I think it is? Are you going to use it?!”

With an over enthusiastic nod pinkie boops the button and the cart pops open revealing waving banner flags, an oven, and horns alongside it all. Music starts to play as the party pony bounces around with a big bass drum and top hats. Happily grinning along with this all I watch Rarity try to weather it all but she winces at the drum beats. Knowing full well what is about to happen I poke at the mare next to me as the pink one keeps bouncing around and singing. Pointing to a spot off to the side she trots over, and then looks back at me as if to ask, why. In that time my KSG lifts free from my side and gently floats next to said fashionista, muzzle pointing down for safety obviously. Now sitting back on my haunches, I grin slyly at her as the song finishes and pinky pie slides in stopping between me and the cart smiling wide. Suddenly the oven on the cart bursts open, confetti blasts forth in a gust of streamers and covers me and the baker’s coat but tangles in my short red main and tail. A moment later the cannons alongside the oven bulge up and fire cake batter into the sky. The batters trajectory indicated it would in fact fall right on me and pinky. Now completely coated in unbaked cake batter I wipe away the batter and laugh along with the pink mare next to me. “Put the confetti in the oven and the cake in the cannons? You need to watch out for that mix up there pinky.” Tapping my hoof to my chin I grin as I lick some of the batter from my muzzle “or not, ether way.”

“Oopsiy!” the hyper horse giggles. “Well it’s still good” she steps back out of all of the batter leaving a hollow shell of it behind, eating it all in one bite to clean up the mess. “yumm!” looking to my hoof I simply licked away some of the batter and nod. Oh it was fantastic, even if it was not cooked. Gods above I will need to try one of her confections sometime in the near future, cooked of course.

“How did you…?” Rarity pointed to me then the malfunctioned cart and then back to me.

“Spoilers dear miss, spoilers~” shaking free most of the batter and licking what was left that I could reach I look back to pinky. “That was the best welcome I have ever had or known! Thank you, truly! ” With a gentle bow I take a step back. “Well, with that I must go for now as this fine mare here,“ I motion over the boutique owner in question “seems to have a gift for me, I have no clue what it is and it is eating away at me with each minute that passes, so I must find out soon. Until then, see you around?”

The energetic pink mare saddens a bit but nods. “Awww but I finally found you. But if it is a gift from Rarity then it must be good. So I guess I can catch you latter. Ok, next time!” suddenly snapping back to her normal domineer the party mare bounces off as if nothing had happened.

“Oh! And next time, try to fix that mix up with the batter and cannons,” I posed for a moment and shook my head with a bit of a chuckle. “Or not, It may work out better if you forget.” With a wave the bouncing ball of pink waves and hops out of sight, her party cart in tow. With that finally dealt with and out of the way I turned and nodded to the unicorn next to me. “Onward then?” With a gentle nod we were off again, but said mare could not take her eyes off me. In fact she seemed to be strait up glaring at me? Why?

“For your sake I do hope that was not a show!” she scolds.

Looking at rarity from the corner of my eye I simply shrug a bit “Vague, going to need more than that to respond. Please define.”

Her cheeks puff up a bit in irritation. “Don’t take me for a fool sir. Pretending to look so happy and cheery around pinky, putting on a show that almost had me fooled, then the moment she is gone the smile is replaced with that blank look and your energy drops back to normal. How could you? Why miss lead her like that? And what of this ‘I have no friends in this place’ comment then make friends with pinky!”

Well I did this to myself; I did not hide the transition. “It was the best way out of an otherwise troubling situation.” Reaching back to my flank yet again I was able to pull another shell from my side “buck.”

Stopping and grimacing at me the mare stomps her front hoof to the ground kicking up a small cloud of dust “excuse me?!”

Looking back my ears pin back a bit “ok I can explain why I appear to be a jerk but to do that I CAN NOT have any one hear this ok? Look, can we just get to your shop so we can discuss this in privet?”

Glaring at me she nods “fine, it’s just across the next opening in the town.”

“I know” I grit my teeth a bit and turn around to continue walking. Only some hundred feet was all that it was to her shop. I was inside before I knew it and was yet again having daggers shot at me by the owner of the boutique.

“Ok so the fact is I know you, I know Pinky, I know about this land, the elements, what is to come of it all for some time, you’re other friends and more. But I can’t say how or what I know lest I ruin the outcome of it all in the flow of time. And because of that I can’t be friends with any of you except of course for Pinky. Not being her friend will not be good for me or her, more me then her.” Sitting down on my flank I look back to rarity with a slight sense of pride in some unknown task. “I must stay away from key ponies and events. In doing so I cannot help you or some others. Thus I cannot befriend others. Lest I falter in this I may cause un-known problems and thus harm this land and its inhabitants.” I gave her some time to take this in so she could respond.

“You know the future?” she looks into my eyes and takes a step forward.

“To an extent, yes” I relax my face to its default. As a human I was told this looked like a slightly grumpy blank expression.

“This stops you from being friends with any one?” another step forward, she is now about three feet from my muzzle.

“Like I have told twilight, what friend can I be to others when I disappear at hard times with no warning or intent to help said ponies threw it, even when I know precisely how.”

“But you saved some pony.” Another step forward and she turns her head a bit to stare at me with one eye into my own.

“I can work between the lines and behind the scenes. But I’m not sure how far I can push that.” despite trying not to move and hold my ground I find myself leaning back just a tad.

“If you can, will you help when you can? Like with Miss Lotus?” her look was stern, not angry but just, unfazed.

My eyes shrank a bit as I held back a grin. “I think that speaks for itself hmm?” I leaned forward a bit and to my own surprise, made Rarity leaned back away from me. “To my last shell and breath as it seems. Still not quite sure why ether, but I’m not complaining ether per say. But I cannot help you or your friends in some key times.”

“Well then, you can still make friends yet. And whether you realize it or not, you already have some.” with a quick nod she prances off to her desk and grabs some things with her magic. “Now if you will kindly stand there, we can get started.” Pointing to a round podium she affixes her red rimmed glasses for the oncoming work.

Getting my butt off the floor I trot over and step onto the platform. “Making friends already? Well looks like I’m not doing a good job and need to keep others farther away from me if you are right. Just can’t have ties like that when I’m still planning to leave at some point. And what are you doing? I thought you were mad at me for what I did? Which by the way was no act, I intend to be friends with Pinky, JUST Pinky.” she began to trot around me looking at my body and frame. Moments later she was measuring me all over, taking notes as she did.

“Fitting you for my gift silly, I have an outfit that I think may work for you. I was mad, well, still am. I don’t know about you and I don’t think what you told me is true-”

“About that, try not to tell others got it? Let’s keep this on a low key.” I interrupted witch garnered a glare from the dress maker.

“Fine.” flipping her main out of the way she continued with a few more notes. “As I was saying, despite if what you say is true or not, You did save one of my friends and look to do the same given the chance. So I’m not too mad. But your outlook needs to change a bit darling.” Putting away the tape she nods and trots off into the back only to return with some clothes on her back. Lifting them and a needle with thread she makes the necessary adjustments. “Done! That was much simpler then I had planned. Guess you got lucky as this outfit was almost your size to begin with. Now try this on for me Mr. Volley so we can see how this fits you.” With a small sigh I grabbed the cloths and fumbled at putting them on. After some struggling and one awkward moment I was finally adorned in my new outfit. Turning around on the pedestal to look at myself in the mirrors to see this new look. Even with all the bandages binding up underneath it did not look half bad.

It was a dark gray in color and the sharp points of the collar matched my eyes, both unmovable as Rarity would put it. A small pocket centered on my chest was in the perfect place to quickly grab anything it held. Epilates gave an air of authority but where not decorated as to not stand out or distract, their sole decoration being the black button fastening down the epilate to my sleeve. The sleeves themselves where loose and rolled to a cuff midway down my foreleg. They allowed me to move freely but did not constrict me, but they were not so loose as to catch on anything I would run past. There was a utility belt with a large pocket I would say was about 8 by 6 inches connected to it. My pant legs where cut similar to the sleeves and rolled into a cuff that covered some of the boots I was given. Said boots where all black, hell dark as the night itself even. Looking kinda like combat boots, helping to provide extra protection from any debris. Three dark straps secured them to my legs and also matched the epilates on my shoulders, but one of the straps to the boots was hidden behind the cuff of the pants leg. The hole dark gray outfit and black boots were a stark contrast to my fire red main.

The whole thing made it look like I was some bad ass hero who would save all who I looked after. At this thought I could not help but stifle a chuckle as I observed my gift. “Wow Rarity, this is.” I turned a few more times looking in each of the mirrors surrounding me so see all the angles. “This looks amazing.” Saying I was holding back a smile would be an outright lie.

“Well thank you darling. I must say, I could not find anypony to sell this to. Nopony looked good in it as well as you do now. I almost lost hope on it until I saw you that is.” Using her magic she pulled and tugged at key points to make sure there was the proper amount of fabric and used a small bit of thread to fix one or two problems. Stepping back and looking me over she smiles. “All finished darling! I hope you enjoy my gift.”

It was perfect, even though I was used to walking around naked, after getting changed that is, it was nice to be covered again none the less. Guess that was the human still in me. Best of all it was covering up my gashed side. It was not bothering me much but the looks others gave where starting to get annoying. Hopefully this would help me blend in a bit with others. That is until I realized most pones don’t cover up this much all the time. I would guess cloths would help better than a large scare on my flank. “It’s awesome Rarity, I’m more than happy to accept this from you now that I see it.” looking over my shoulder I gently smile a bit. “Element of generosity is no lie.” Getting a small blush out of her I look back to my image and something catches my mind as I mess with the pocket on my chest. “Say, mind if I ask where Sweetie Belle is? Or the other CMC? I’m just a little surprised at how quiet it is around here compared to what I know of your shop.

“Hmm?” looking around the mare shrugs. “I don’t know who you get your information from but it is like this from time to time. More often then I like some times.” The mare looks off a bit dejected as this was a reflection of how her business was doing. “But my sister is off on a class trip to the Canterlot gardens. Oh how I wish I could have gone. I hear they are fantastically gorgeous. Oh! And the garden parties are to die for. Umm, Volley? Are you all right?” she walks over and waves a hoof in front of my frozen face. Still looking calm like before I struggled to keep that look.

“Canterlot gardens? Filled with statuses?” my eyes slowly look to the unicorn who at this point just looked confused as she nods in confirmation. “Oh, ok, well, it’s time for the season opener already then? Bloody hell.”

Author's Note

Ok so here it is, a month late. I will try to get the next out sooner then this one.

Surprise! His name is Ballistic Volley and the new art shows off how he looks in his new threads. that and how his gun looks if you ever wondered.

Art by the fantastic FoxInShadow from DA!