Cool air brushed past me and through my coat as I stood outside the Boutique owned by the town’s premier fashionista. A chill runs down my spine as I stand still. I don’t think I’m ever going to stop loving that feeling. Keeping an eye out for any more threats at night was simple as the building did stand apart from the rest of the buildings just a bit. All alone in an odd clearing, sorta like how the Golden Oak library did. It was a big tree so that to me kinda made scenes. Rarity’s home slash place of work was not a tree so, meh. It was nice to be out in the quiet night all to myself now. As I walked around I found it a bit of a challenge to walk silently, having hooves of hard keratin made this difficult. Was I being courteous to others in town and trying to make as little sound as possible so I did not wake others? Nope, I was actually practicing this little skill just to kill time. Staring at the stars and moon was not always the best way to pass the time so this was my next best thing.

About an hour ago the guards had finished with their work of collecting all the statements from me and Rares about the run in with the crazed stallion. After which the element barer? recommended I stay and keep a look over the place to keep up the facade we had quickly collaborated. Looking back on that, I was going to be in for a bit of rushed paper work to make this all on the up and up legally to keep old sun butt off my butt as to why I was wandering around at night. Is it so wrong to be out at night or against the law? Why is it looked down upon? Well, that brought me to another point. Looking around I spot a pair of golden eyes watching me from the roof of the building closest to the shop of fashion. Starring at the eyes I point right at them with one hoof. I could barely make out an up and down motion on the roof, I could only guess she was shrugging at me. “Bet you can’t hear me all the way over there. I could bad mouth you and you would be none the wiser.” I whispered softly. Kinda like if you were asking your friend in the theater if there was any popcorn left.

I saw the faint glowing orbs suddenly bound off the roof and land on the ground with a muffled thump in front of said building. I stopped my silent walking attempt to watch the mare walk over to me. Stopping just in front of me she looks up at me glaring with those golden silted eyes. “My name is Swift Shadow, the stallion tasked to clean up your fumble is Altered light.”

Tilting my head I nod “And to what do I owe the honor of this sudden introduction?” I bow a bit as I have no problem showing night guard or bat pony’s respect. Hell none of them have knocked me out yet.

Glaring at me she steps forward with a stern step. “I don’t like the fact that Light and I are stuck babysitting you. That being my mission right now I’m not going to put up with your insults or you underestimating us.” I lean back my head and my ears pin back. Oops, my bad. “So I thought I should tell you the names of the ones who get to run a sword threw you if you step out of line. Luna thought it was best to set her best on such a tedious task and I can’t see why, but I trust Lunas judgment. So don’t make this harder or more of an insult to us all right?” her dark armor clicked a bit as she stepped back to a normal distance. “I’m stuck with you because Light is dealing with covering your ass so be grateful he is doing that much on the Princesses command.” Glancing up to the top of her head I look at her ears which did in fact have small tuft of fluff at their tips. Aside from that the ears looked more like bats, less fur on the inside, and a little on the big side but yeah. Curling my lips a bit I nod to the guard now knowing that those ears could pick up a whisper from some ways away and she did in fact hear my little comment.

I lower my head a little as she steps away feeling bad that without a point or provocation I had kinda, sorta, insulted her. “I will not insult you or your partner any further the best I can. I was not aware I would be such a pain to keep an eye on or that eyes had to be on me in the first place. I will say that if Princess Luna herself gave you this task then I would have no qualms with her wishes or the guards tasked with it.” With a shrug and a glance around the area I take a deep breath of the night air. “I will give you a heads up that I will be wandering around at night more than others would, I’m a bit of a night owl. It would be nice to chat with you two if you are going to be stuck to me but I’m not going to push that option too much if you can’t or just don’t want to. Now if you will excuse me I need to get back to my task for this night.” I bow to the mare much more to the point I was touching my muzzle to the ground and bending my front legs, mostly as I did not know how far to bow any how in this world. “It is an honor to meet a skilled night guard and time allowing I hope to meet Altered Light as well.” Lifting my head from bowing I turn back to Rarity’s shop and continue working on walking quietly.

Leaning her head to one side and tilting it about a degree, she narrowed her gaze at me and nods silently “Roll your hoof from the outside inward to step quietly.”

My ears twitch as I hear this and turn to thank her “Oh, thank…” Before I can finish though she was in the air and back on top of the building she was on before. But this time I did not see the golden glow of her eyes watching me. “Heh, thank you Miss Shadow.” Turning back to my walk I apply the rolling step method and wouldn’t ya know it. She was right and my steps where much more quiet. Not silent mind ya but it was a start. The rest of the night was more of what I would have figured this town had to offer at night, nothing. Walking was all I could do to keep myself awake too. If it were not for the pile of things I had planned to start working on I would have just taken a nap later to solve this. Alas, I had to start earning bits and find a place to stay. Looking around I spotted Shadows eyes watching again and I nodded my head just a bit. Making my way around the building I was out of her sight behind the shop from her vantage point. “Wonder if Ponyville had apartments. If I could snag a house that would be awesome.” I stopped suddenly as a realization struck me “Oh gods what is rent like out here? Like… 150bits? Or more like a grand? Hell what is minimum wage???” this would continue on through the rest of the night up until dawn.

Shadow took off from the roof top and flew over me as I was standing motionless in front of the shop and I glanced up to watch her float towards Canterlot. Moments later the sky shifted from a dark blue of the twinkling night to the reds and oranges of twilight, then to the light blue of the morning sky. It was kinda a long night but nothing too hard for me, I had done similar but not worse.

I heard a yawn from behind me and looked over my shoulder to see the seamstress herself walking out from her shop. “Good morning Volley! I trust it was quiet for the rest of the night?” Nodding was all she was going to get out of me as I rubbed my eyes with my hoof. “Well” her horn glows as she lifts up a small brown bag and gives it to me. Taking the bag in my hoof I tilt my head at it a little confused. “That’s payment for keeping me safe as my guard for the night. Seeing as it is your job right?” she winks knowingly at me and I chuckle back nodding. “Just remember to stop by town hall and fill out the forms to make it proper. Twilight or I can help you draft up contracts you may need if you need help with them. So don’t be shy, drop by every now and again Dearie.” With that she grants me one last smile and trots off into town.

Using my head I pull myself around and start my way to town hall as the fashion mare walks down a separate path. Placing the bag of bits in my side pouch I could hear all the coin clink gently within the bag. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth but I should probably check to see how much is in that bag. Another yawn and I was at the doors of the town hall, and grabbing the door with my teeth I open the doors to find a vast open space that was used for events such as weddings or other things I guess. Glancing around I soon found a door way to the side where I would guess was the place I was looking for? “Hello?” I poke my head inside to see what actually looked more like the town archives. “I need to fill out paper work for starting a business? I guess?”

A pale, light grayish magenta mare pokes her head out from behind one of the rows of file cabinets and spots me. “Oh! You are an early one today aren’t you? Well sorry to tell you but this is only the archive, you are looking for the legal documents building. After things are proceed then we get them to store and reference when needed.” Stepping out from the file cabinets I see the rest of her and its Amethyst Star. Pushing a cabinet closed she points in a vague direction to her left. “Go back out the doors you walked in and to the left there is the building you are looking for.”

With a nod I turn and start to walk out giving Star a wave “Thanks Amethi-“ I scrunch up my face before I talk any more. “Umm…ya, thanks!” That was too close. With a little skid on the smooth floors I bolted out of the room before I could be asked anything more. Nosing the doors open again so I could move on outside I look around and spot the building stated. It was not too much unlike the other buildings but it did have a sign with lots of scrolls and a legal looking stamps. This was also pointed out by the stallion just unlocking the door and walking inside. Was that Tall Order or Steel Wright? Not too sure but at least I know I was looking at the correct building, I hope. Walking over I push open the door with a hoof and look around inside. “Hello? I’m starting a business and, I was told this is where I fill out paper work to make it legit?”

“One moment sir, I will be right with you.” Stepping inside the shop I find there are about three desks, all with the same looking file cabinets and lamps on top of them. Almost like somepony had used ctrl+C on it. Pushing the door closed gently with my hind hoof I spot the pony from before right as the latch clicks, it was in fact Tall Order. The gray pony looks over to me and narrows his eyes a bit. “Oh, well, how can I help you today?” red flag numero uno.

Leaning my head back a little I look him over a bit, his face had suddenly shifted to a more stoic expression when he had a small smile before. “Well I’m starting up a business and I guess I need to fill out some paper work to make it real and legal?” with a nod he walks over to one of the desks and takes a seat. He does not offer me a seat but he does start to shuffle threw the drawers on the desk and after a short rummage he slaps down a stack of papers on the desk.

“All right I need to you read through all the forms and sign each one to prove you have read and understand the laws, taxes, and regulations. After which you will need to pay a startup fee of one hundred bits.” he pushes the papers forward and I start to look through them, it was nothing I was unfamiliar with from earth despite my lack of legal knowledge. Never started a business but I kinda knew what it would entail. It looked a little simpler and, well, there were more loopholes here and there then I would have thought. But it looked to me like there was more trust involved, benefits of having harmony as a big driving force in this world I guess. Glancing up from reading the first form and flipping to the next page I see how the stallion helping me was not paying me much mind, looking out the window as if he was at a doctor’s office for his appointment. Two papers in and another pony walks in and he instantly perks up with a smile. “Good morning Mayor. Do you need those reports this early in the morning? Or is there another updates to the pink form again?” Pink form?

“No, no, just the forms this morning. Oh my! I’m sorry I did not mean to interrupt you with a client” the tan looking mare strides over to the long desk that was towards the side of the room that was separating the three desks from the door that Tall Order had come through.

“That’s All right Mayor, He is just the new pony from the Discord kerfuffle.” Excuse me?! As the stallion gets up to help the mare I glare at him before going back to my papers. I could not tell but it also looked like the Mayor nodded with a bit of concern too. Whispers and sideways glances became the norm as the two started to sort through papers, forms, and scrolls. Is this all from what I did? Or is, no, this can’t be how new folks are treated in this town with Pinky Pie around. Checking boxes, filling out descriptions, and a few more signatures signaled that I was finally threw a stack of what was actually only a total of ten papers.

“Uuuh, Sir, I finished all the forms, can I ask you about something on the last page?” I wave my hoof a bit to grab the attention of Tall Order but I was a bit surprised to see that out of the two ponies none of them even looked my way. “Hello?” they were not even chatting, just looking through papers quietly. “Excuse Me!” I raised my voice a tad but not really a yell or a shout.

Turning his head, Order looked over to me with a bit of a snort. “Just a moment Sir, I’m helping the Mayor of the town right now.” Rolling my eyes I look back to the papers to try and sort it out on my own. After coming up with nothing to my queries I decided to instead take a look into the bag of bits Rarity had given me earlier. If I had to pay a fee I may not have enough to pay that right now. Pouring out the contents of the bag I was surprised to see that there was quite an amount of coin. Looked like about thirteen coins, at that moment something caught my eye. The markings on the coins where a little different from one another, after stacking them into little piles I had realized there where denominations on them to. Ten of them are not single bit amounts but tens! Quickly looking over to the other pile of three I see one hundred on them! Moon and stars! Rares gave me 400 bits for guarding her place? “Ok I can help you now, everything signed and filled out?” Tall Order had turned from the mare of the town and was walking over to me. I quickly sweep up all the bits back into the bag. With a look of subtle surprise I nod to the stallion and push forward the paper work. “Good, it’s all here, oh by the way. You need to give me an address that you can be reached at and the fee of processing will be one hundred bits.” For a moment I thought to write down the address to my place on earth, but that would be a mistake here, so I just jotted down the name: Golden Oaks Library. I hope the name would work as I did not actually know the address of it let alone the address system in this world. After pulling the bits back out from there pouch and grabbing a hundred bit, I slid it and the paper work back to the clerk.

“It’s only temporary but this is where I can be contacted or a note left for me.” with a nod the stallion swipes up the coin and slapped a stamp on the final paper of the stack. He then proceeded to shoo me away with one hoof towards the door as he continued filling out more forms to follow up mine. I walk out the door right past Mayor Mare and I could not help but pick up a small hrumpf from her as I left the building.

“Hay! You forgot your business license!” looking back over my shoulder Tall Order was waving a paper with a card attached it. Turning around I smile a bit and nod to him as I approach.

“Oh thank you-“ before I could grab the paper he dropped it on the ground and slammed the door in my face after he had retreaded back inside. “…” I was shocked, like I said I was ok with some hate but this is a new level for me. Shaking my head before old memories could remind me of similar times I bend down to pick up the papers. Folding them and gently sliding them into the pocket on the front of my uniform I turn and slowly trot to the library. Zecora did not deal with this, what she got was more fear of the unknown and let’s go hide. So why are folks mad at me and not hiding from me instead? What the heck? Oh if this is all because of Discord I’m going to break off his tail before he is freed again. Guess this will act more of a push for me to get back to my home, if I ever get any lead on gateways or portals that is. With a sigh I make my way back to the library just as I see Spike looking around under the balcony. “Yo! Looking for me or something else?”

“Volley, there you are. Ware where you? It was strangely quiet all night. Well” the dragon walked over to me and scratched his head “Did you hear that loud boom last night? It sounded like thunder. There was no storm last night right? Was it RD playing a prank late at night again? Or, or was that you?” leaning to the side Spike looks at my gun resting on my flank.

“Yeah that was me. Had to deal with somepony at the boutique last night, Anyway, what’s up?”

The baby dragon’s eyes widen a bit as the gears turn in his head. “Oh, well its breakfast time, Twi is also looking for you.” With a nod I walk over to the door and open it with a turn of the hoof. Looking over to Spike I becon him inside with a flick of my head. Blinking free of his thoughts he nods and runs inside. “Thanks, you umm, did not, you know…” looking down at him as I followed him inside I shake my head. “Oh that’s good!” walking into the kitchen and to its small table Spike takes his seat and I take the same one as the last time I had sat here. “Today I made too much pancake batter so eat as much as you want.”

“Oh there is no need to tell me that twice!” Even as I had said this I was filling my plate with a large stack of flapjacks and drenching them in sticky syrup. One bite later and spike was greeting Twilight as she walked in reading a letter. I was able to utter a “Morning” between bites of pancakes.

“Good morning to you as well Volley, Spike.” Looking up from the letter as she took her seat I glance over to her. She did not have the best look adorning her face as I would think a morning person would normally have. Looking to me she sighs “That loud sound last night, was that you?” I slowdown in my eating pace and look off just a bit as I nod with a mouth full of food. Looking back to her letter her ears lay back “what did you do?”

Holding up one hoof I finish chewing my food and swallow it down. “I was passing Rarity’s shop and there was a stallion driven mad by Discord breaking into the place. He had a cleaver and was after Rarity’s life for putting him out of business. I was not going to idly stand buy so I defended her home and when he attacked me I shot him.” Looking back to Twi I sighed a bit through my pancakes.

Spike spat out his food and stood up “you said you did not shoot anyone when I asked!”

Looking back to him in surprise I shake my head “I thought you were going to ask if I had killed somepony.”

Tapping the table both me and spike look back to Twilight. “This letter is from Princess Luna telling me that you will have two night guards watching you at night.” She shuffled the letters around. There was more? “This one is from Princess Celestia telling me about your actions last night and about how you have a job as a mercenary? Volley what is this all about?” she tilts her head at me and gives me the look of a concerned mother.

Rolling my eyes I look back to the little bit of pancakes still in front of me on my plate. “first off I had showed Princess Luna some of the history of the land I come from and she thought I needed guards watching me at night to A: keep an eye on me and B: prove I’m not up to no good at night because apparently I’m more active than others at night. Aside from you I tend to walk about at night now that I’m here in Equestria, did not do that back home. And sun butt on the other hoof-” Twilight scowled at me a bit so I held up my hooves understanding what I did. “Ahem, Celestia on the other hand was first on the Sean last night and so she may just be trying to inform you about what is sleeping under your balcony. I was told I may be charged with some crimes for what I did but then it kinda looked like Celestia wanted me to be cleared of them.” I start to scratch at the bandages under my clothes. “These may need to come off soon. Also twilight, I’m not a murk, I will not take hit jobs or knowingly break the law, as it stands I’m a guard for hire or just a jack of all trades I guess, filled out all the paper work just this morning. I need to start making money so I can get my own place so I don’t have to keep mooching off of you. I have done nothing to repay you so I need to start working on that.” looking down at the pancakes my ears twitch. “And thank you so much for the food these past few days. If you need any help just ask me please? I don’t like being in debt.”

Setting down the letters and starting on her breakfast as well she thinks a bit. “I know who you can go to about a home to look for, but you need to build up your piggy bank before you can get into an apartment at least.” After getting about half way threw her pancakes he taps her chin with one hoof. “I don’t know if anypony around town needs a guard, but if you are a jack of all trades then we can start with Apple Jack, she always has things to do on the farm. Maybe you can go and help her out with a few?”

With a nod I finish off my plate and start to stack on more before Spike was able to beat me to what was left. “I’m ok with farm work, I may not have the strength for some of it but I will definately do what I can until I fall.” I chuckle a bit as I remember the last time I did work like that. “Oh, also I may need to draft some contracts for me being a guard for hire or other things of that ilk. Would you be able to help me with that?” I walk back over to the table and sit back down to keep eating as Spike finishes his helping and moves to grab more.

“For somepony who does not like debt you sure ask quite a bit” Twi grins between bites.

“Ouch” Spike chuckles a bit behind me as he fills up his plate with more Pancakes.

Putting a hoof over her mouth the librarian chuckles to herself and sighs. “You can pay me back by letting me ask you questions about your world and you. Some experiments too.”

With a shrug I nod “Yeah I can do that much. But you know some things I can’t tell you, not without a pinky promise.” With a knowing nod Twilight finishes off her pancakes. “Well ok then I can do that whenever I’m not busy.” Being a new day I had a little theory about my own abilities, so I started by pulling a shell from my side and stuffing it into my pocket. “One”

Twilight and spike both look at me with confused looks. “What was that?” Spike askes. I wave a hoof at him as I reach to pull another but nothing happens this time and I shrug.

“Being strange aside, after we finish lets go to Sweet Apple Acers and see if there is anything that needs done.” Finally finishing her plate of morning food she gets up to set the plate in the sink and starts to make a pot of coffee. “When you say you know about me and my friends, you know about Apple Jack and her family right?”

“More then you for the time being.” after sipping some sweet tea I go back to what was left of my pancakes.

With a nod the mare rolls her eyes and looks back to her brewing coffee. After a little bit of quiet filled with the sounds of eating and coffee brewing we were all done and cleaning up the dishes. Not long after, me and Twilight where waving Spike good bye as we both trotted off to the farm that AJ lived and worked. It was not hard to start up and hold a simple conversation with the too be princess of friendship. Nothing too heavy just asking how her day went the other day and me explaining what happened in my dream with the Princess of the night, sans the bit about death tolls. I was a little happy when I was able to pull another shell while walking without tripping. “Two”

Looking at me like a scientist who just found something to question. “You know, the more I see you use magic the more it confuses me. You tell me you can’t cast spells yet you obviously can.” She hip checks me gently. “Why are you saying that?”

Putting the shell into my gun to replace the spent shell from the night before I shrug to the mare as my gun floats back to my flank. “As of now I see spells as something you intend to happen and can conjour at will. Right now I can’t control this and I’m not thinking about making anything happen. It just works, like how to walk you just, walk. You don’t think about it, well that’s kinda how I’m making this work. Not sure if that’s just me or if there is more to it.” I bump the mare back and smirk a bit “besides you can do so much and all I can do is make ammo and float my gun. Two spells? That’s not much for a unicorn.” At that moment we finally make it to the gates of the farm and I spot little Apple Bloom oiling the hinges of the gate. As we get near I wave to draw her attention.

“Hello Apple Bloom!” Twilight calls out to the little filly. “Have you seen your big sister?”

“Hi Twilight, I-“ as she looked up from her work to greet Twilight she stares right at me. With a sharp gasp and shrunken pupils the small pony lets out a shrill scream and bolts off towards the farm just out of sight behind the trees of the orchard.

Looking back and forth to one another, the element barer and I slowly shrug. I had a bad feeling about this as I remembered what happened back in the town. But I don’t remember doing anything or even seeing her during the event. As we continued walking toward the farm house inside the orchard I felt more and more impending doom in the air. Something was amiss and Twilight could see I was acting strange. “Are, are you feeling ok there?” she moves to put a hoof on my shoulders.

Shaking my head I start to look around more than needed. “Something feels off and I don’t know what it is. But it’s making me uneasy.” Shaking my head to try and rid myself of this feeling the mare pats my back.

“It’s all right, it’s just AJ, and you know who she and her family are.” Twilight try’s to easy my nerves.

Something in that struck a cord and I nodded. “Right, right” my ears pop up and so to does Twi’s

Looking forward we both spot Apple Jack walk out from behind a tree looking around for something. “See? She is not gray ether, its ok.” After a small chuckle Twilight waves to AJ and hollers out “hey Apple Jack! Got a moment?” looking over with a bit of a jerk I could make out her eyes narrowing as she started to gallop our way. Something was building inside me and I did not like it. As the mare closed the gap between me and Twilight I took a step back as a chill ran down my spine. “Is she mad or something? I have not seen her move this fast”

“Twilight! Get away from him! He is bad news!” AJ shouts out about a hundred feet out.

“Volley? No he is not bad.” Twi looks at me and back to the farm pony “what is-“

Before the mare could finish her thought AJ made a small leap. I on the other hand started to pull my gun forward out of instinct but I stopped my gun in midair. I can’t pull my gun on AJ! One of AJ’s front hooves landed first and started her to spin with a slight slide to keep her momentum. Don’t engage! Run! Move! Get out of the way!! Thoughts ran through my mind but it was all too fast. Another front hoof made contact with the ground to stop her spin. All I could see was the red of the ribbon on her tail. I watched in frozen terror as her hind hooves almost blurred out of my sight before they made contact. I could feel my jaw and teeth scream out in pain as I was bucked, HARD. gigity Her hooves sank into my lower jaw and skull pushing my head up and back. The stunned look on Twilights face was nothing but half of what I would be expressing had I no hooves in my face. As things speed back up to normal time the hard hooves followed through perfectly and literally threw me backwards head over hooves, several times, right into an apple tree, back first. This is how I die. Before I made contact all that was building inside me was expelled out my back as mana. There was a tremendous blast before I hit tree and it cushioned the impact. Sadly that’s the last thing I remember. I still hit the tree so hard it slammed the back of my skull and I was knocked out.

Royal guard: 2

Blood loss: 1

Apple pony: 1

As my brain finishes rebooting from the system crash brought on by the massive concussion curtesy of Apple Jack’s mean kick, I slowly open my eyes to see Twilight yelling at the farm pony? Blinking a few times my body slumps over so I was now laying on the ground instead of leaning on the trunk of a tree.

“Why in the wide world of equestria would you kick him so hard?!”

“He scared the life outa my little sis Twi! He could have hurt her!”

“Discord had him under a spell! He had no clue what he was doing.”

“But Apple Bloom!”

“Volley would never heart a filly, trust me.”

Gritting my teeth was a bad idea as my teeth had almost been shattered and boy where they sore! I pushed up with my front hooves to sit upright and looked around. Hmm…. So this is what shell shock is like. Twi and AJ where blurring any time they moved and I could feel my insides still doing backflips. I put a hoof to my head and close my eyes to try and keep my food down as the world spun.

“Look it here! He is back up ayn' standin'! I didn’t kill him after all.” looking back up all I see is the farm pony walking towards me still looking a bit mad at me. Without thinking about it I was suddenly propelled away from her by and explosion from my side. It felt more like a big warm shove to my right. I was able to land with a skid on all fours before I slammed into another tree. With a drained wide eyed face I glanced from one mare to another as if expecting one of them to jump me. Instead I watched as both suddenly covered and rubbed their ears. It was not that loud, was it? “Now look at this! He is a-jumpin' around making a racket! What are y’all doin’ with a guy like this anyhow?”

“You just kicked him into a tree and you think he is going to act normal right as he wakes up? you will just make him do that again, whatever that was he just did. ” the book horse shakes her head and looks over to me taking a tentative step toward me. My eyes dart toward her and I slowly regain my head as she stretches out one hoof “Are you ok Volley? Take it slow; you hit your head pretty hard.” Blinking a few more times I rub my head as my insides stop trying to fly. Resting a hoof on my shoulder Twi nods “Are you back?” I nod slowly as AJ walks up to me.

“Humph, it’s what you get for mess’n with my kin.”

“Lest we not forget what happens when you turn gray.” I finally stand upright from my staggered stance and glare at her. “I will let Big Mac know you fell back to your old ways then?” the farmer turns red and stumbles over her words but nothing really comes out. Twilight looks back and forth between me and AJ confusion all over her face. “Calm down AJ I’m not going to, just bluffing.” I rub my head more but man my jaw feels like it is made of dust.

Twilight taps my shoulder and points over to the dirt road we were on a moment ago and I spot a few shells alongside my gun. “I managed to catch your gun but I let the shells drop, that’s ok right?” I nod and walk over to the path. My gun becomes surrounded in my crimson magic hold and drifts to my side where it holsters on my right flank. I chuckled as I find three new shells on the ground, I had the shells knocked out of me.

“Three, four, five.”

After picking up the shells and tossing them into my large pocket with the other one, I look to the two mares just walking up to the path to join me. “Ok so why are y’all here in the first place? Did you need somthin’ or where you just stopping by ta say hi” Looking over to Twilight I motion for her to talk to her friend, I don’t think it would help for me to say much at this moment.

“Oh, right! Well Apple Jack. This is Ballistic Volley,” I waved a bit “he is, well, new to this land, umm, town. And he needs a job to earn some bits for a place to stay until he can get back home. I know you always have so much to do around here I just thought he could help out a bit for pay?” the book horse smiles sheepishly to her friend as the Apple looks me over from head to hoof.

“Well seeing as he is a tall one and I got no clue what he can do.” she looks over her shoulder and points to a tree. I follow her hoof to see a tree had fallen over, its trunk splintered to bits. “He can start by cleaning up what he did and get that spot ready for a new tree.”

Shocked and now fully out of my daze I look to the two “I did that?”

Twilight nodded “Just before you hit that tree there was a big explosion. I thought you’re shells had exploded but you just broke the tree. How did you do that? I have not seen any spell work like that one.” I shrug as I walk over to the tree.

“It just happened I guess, automatic response?” I shrug a bit and Apple Jack just shakes her head.

“Stay here for now and I will get ya some tools to start. I will keep an eye on ya too just to be sure you don’t try anything funny. I trust Twi but I don’t trust ya as far as I can throw ya.”

“So what like, thirteen feet?” I look back and forth from the path to the tree.

Twilight giggles behind a hoof but AJ just groans as she walks off towards the barn. Figuring I should take this time for a little brake I sit down next to the tree I had split in half. “The amount of energy needed to do this had to be massive. How am I not just as hurt? Then again, AJ did send me flying just as well.”

“You were able to make a smaller one to jump away from her just a moment ago too” Twilight points out. “In your state I don’t think any unicorn could have focused enough to use any magic like that. Maybe your magic is controlled by your reflexes?” examining the stump of the tree I nod to her, it was the first solid hypothesis I had for my magic. It was not long after that Apple Jack was back with a small cart filled with tools and one sapling. Walking over to the cart I look back to her a bit confused.

“What’s wrong now? Don’t know what to use?” the farm pony slowly starts to grin and I shake my head.

“Naa, just wondering why you filled the cart with so much, I don’t think I need half of this.” With my hooves on the side of the cart I rummage for the shovel I could see at the bottom with my muzzle, and grab it in my mouth. Pulling it free I manage to stick it into the ground. After a moment of contemplation I figure out how to use it with a quadruped body and hooves. That was the only hard part as it was actually easy to manipulate after I had sorted out how to stand and move.

“Well ya found an odd one Twi, covered in fancy clothes and he is a tall unicorn digging out a stump without magic. Where did you find him? Another planet?” the two mares chuckle and Twilight nods.

“kinda. He can’t use magic very well so just think of him as an earth pony” the librarian shrugs and gives her friend a wave “well I have things to do so I will be off. Just don’t break him ok?” the mare trots off waving good bye to me, to which I wave back.

“No promises Twilight!” the mare shouts back to the distant unicorn. Looking back to me she sighs with a hoof in her face. “Why me?” walking over to an un broken tree she leans on it in the cool shade and keeps on watching me as I dig a trench around the tree stump. After that was done the pick axe was next to cut the roots holding it in the ground. Then it was the odd task of tying a rope around the stump and myself up to a harness to pull it free. AJ got one hell of a laugh out of watching my weak flank try to pull this root ball out of the ground. And after about fifteen minutes she grabbed the rope in her teeth and with her help I was able to easily heft the root ball out of the ground. She did the most work in that task, I may be tall but I’m just a unicorn. As an earth pony she is much stronger then I could ever be. After moving the mass of wood and dirt nest to the other half of the tree I set to work in planting the sapling. During all of this AJ had started to pick the apples that where on the downed tree, leave nothing to waste right?

Taking a breather I pulled another shell from my side and again popped it into my pocket. “Five” And with that I walked to the cart to retrieve the little tree. Pulling the string holding the burlap around its root ball free and pulling the rough fabric away I gently pick up the tree by the trunk with my teeth. Once in the ground I use my hooves to back fill the gaps and pressed it all down. Before I could look for it AJ was watering the young tree with a water pot. After setting it down she looks at me, not quite surprised but more content? Not sure.

“Never seen a unicorn do that before. Rarity would never think to do this, let alone know how.”

“Well I’m a jack of all trades in this world. I don’t think like most so ya. Point me at something and I will do my best to get er’ dun” With a shrug the mare tosses an apple at me and beckons me to follow. Taking a big bite of the delicious, savory apple I follow. The rest of the day was not just meeting Big Mac, who was indeed taller than me by three inches, to help me move the tree parts but other various things as well. Feeding the pigs was odd but all the other things looked to be simple farm things. Lots of moving things and lifting, exhausting too. A little over half the day was spent with me helping the apple family to the best I could. Even after all that work I still felt horrible after I was told what I had done. During my attempt to help fight back the timber wolfs during discords short bout of freedom, I had shotover Cheerilee and her class. This included Apple Bloom, whom I had not seen all day after the first run in with her. I was also told this is why the town is most likely going to hate me for the foreseeable extent of time. Word does spread fast in this town to everypony and this town does not like such things being done. And I did not have the time or mentality to explain my side to the entire town of Ponyville. “Buck that.”

“Well that’s thuh pit you’re in now, so dig out or get used to the dark.” Back in the farm house Big Mac, JA, and I were taking a break and trying to decide what do have me work on next. It was then decided that because of the little bit of help I was giving we had done all of the days’ work and a little bit of the next days, well the small stuff I was trusted to do. So with a few bits begrudgingly given to me I was sent off to go back to the library. “You did well today. I still don’t trust ya aroun' here but ifin' you need something to do I may have small work needing to be done.”

“Still kinda surprised you let me work at all not only considering what I was tricked into doing but you being stubborn about letting others help.” With a shrug I glance around and still no Apple Bloom, not too surprised. Pushing open the door to the house I make my way out before AJ stops me.

“Hold on now, look, I’m a little sorry about kicking y'all so awful hard. You are a good worker and I may have jumped to conclusions before Twi told me about what happened.” Big Mac nods behind her and it was then I was thankful AJ found me before he did. I may not have a jaw or solid skull to speak of, if I was still alive after to speak that is. “I can talk to Apple Bloom and try to get her to see-“ I cut her off my putting up one hoof and shaking my head as I stood in the door way.

“No need for that.” I turn and start to walk out the door as I look back over my shoulder to finish my thought. “If I know her she will talk to me at some point no matter what is said or done.” Looking forward as the farm mare waves me good bye I mutter to myself. “Getting too attached.” I still had lots of daylight so I decided to get my butt in gear and look for a way home. So the library was my first stop. Knowing some strange books where held inside its shelves I’m guessing it may be a good first start. Yes there where bigger ones I knew of but I don’t thinking I’m allowed to leave this town with all the guards watching me. It was no coincidence that as I think this I look around from my walk to the library to spot one or two guards watching me from her patrol post. Rolling my eyes I make my way to the vault of tomes from witch I hopped I could find a gate of safe passage to my realm of birth.

Tilting his head as he scratched his chin, the drake of the Golden Oak Library thought hard about any portals, gates, teleports, or other such magical ways to travel. “I don’t think we have anything like that, aside from the normal book about teleporting and its theory’s.” with a shrug spike looks around at the walls of books.

“Hmm, Ok how about any stories or events where things just appear or start happening. Like a creature in a place it should not be or ponies going missing.” Slowly walking and looking at the book ends the dragon stops and thinks for a moment.

“Oh, well maybe the events of the forest or mountains.” Quickly grabbing the ladder he re positions it and scurries up the rungs. After grabbing a book and repeating the steps in another part of the room he skips up to me with two books in claw. One was a stone gray guided in silver mountain patterns and the other was a deep forest green that I found myself getting lost in for a brief moment.

Looking over the books and taking them from him I nod happily “Thanks Spike, it’s cool if I just read them here right? I will not be in the way of anything will I?” with a shake of the drake’s head I bow a bit to him. “Thanks so much.” With that I moved out of the way to the tiny reading nook that was to the left of the front door. Setting the books down I look to the green book first. “Forests Around Equestria and Their Stories. Hmm, well, better than nothing I guess.” And with that I was looking through the literature that was gathered from multiple accounts and recalling’s of old mare’s tails through time. After a few minutes I realized that the stories with folks going missing just sounded like somepony got lost and never found. One story had the details for credibility and an account from the stallion that was missing in a forest for a week then just popped up at his home. He had forgotten even going into the forest for a hike at all, but had become scared of some rounded hallways. Before I could get into the story and more details Twilight and Rarity walked into the Library chatting happily. I did not look up from my book or say anything but my ears did perk up and twitch to listen to them.

It was kinda surreal to hear the mares being greeted by Spike, with emphasis towards Rarity, and return the gesture in kind. The fashionista was the first to break what I knew from the norm. “Dear Spikey Wikey, would you happen to know where Mr. Volley is? I have good news for him.” While she looked around Spike directs her attention over the nook for witch I was currently residing within. To which I still did not look up but instead waved with one hoof to acknowledge the two. The forests just west of the Smokey Mountains? But not sure if it was the undiscovered west? “Oh there you are Dear! I have got just the best news for you.” Trotting over to me I hold up one hoof as I finish a passage, I node to myself, then look to the mare putting my hoof down. After I smile and nod a little she continues. “So me and Twilight where at the spa and I was explaining last night’s events to Lotus Blossom and she looked intrigued.” The mare giggled happily for a moment before getting to the point. “She then asked if you were free today! So Twilight told her that you were at sweet apple acers and may be available later today.” The two mares looked at one another but Rarity giggled much more then Twi who just kinda sheepishly smiled. “She wants you to go with her to Zecora’s for the herbs needed in one of their baths. She wants a guard because of what happened last time.”

I was a bit surprised at how fast this was taking off, But why all the giggling from her? “Really? Ok that’s good.” I nod to myself again as I run some things threw my head, and pull another shell from my side. “Seven?” I look at the shell surprised, it was magnesium slug! I was not thinking about it but I guess after hearing I would need to go into the forest it just, happened. After stowing the round I look back to Rarity and spot the book horse looking at me funny again, With a shrug I respond to Rares. “Thanks for promoting my little occupation. Did you give her a time or did she have one in mind about when she would like to go?”

This time Twilight spoke up “We did not know when you would finish working at AJ’s farm or how you would feel after all that work. So we explained that you would go to the spa when you are ready.” Tilting her head the mare looks me over “you feel ok? She did not make you do too much did she? You look kinda swollen.”

I lean my head back and look at myself. “Oh, that, No I’m fine.” I start to take off the clothes that I had on to show all the bandages and gauze holding me together underneath. Some of which where starting to peel away and ball up under my clothes making it look like I was swollen underneath. “Guess it’s time I take all this off?” after pealing half of the medical cloth from my hide I realize that the deep cuts and such are all but gone! Some small scares but that’s all? I would have thought it would have taken much longer to heal.

“Ahem!” I stop and look back to Rarity and Twilight. Rarity was looking away with a bit of a blush? “Give a lady warning next time you start to undress Mr. Volley.” I saw Twilight roll her eyes but what had my attention more was what the pale mare was pointing at. It was the patch I had been given by old sun butt herself.

It was black! Like it was burned or scorched, no longer abnormally bright white and gold like when it was put on. Before I could grab it with my teeth it was magically ripped from my side by one fateful student. Clenching my teeth I spun my head to glare at Twi for the sharp pain. “That’s strange, Celestia herself made this correct?” I nodded to confirm this, as did Rarity. I continued to remove more bandages and toss them into a nearby wastebasket as Twi examined the patch more. One scan threw a book and she looks back to me a bit worried. “This is a slow example but I’m sure this is what happens when a magic imbued item has a different, opposing magic pushed into it.”

Both mares and now spike look at me and I just shrug. “Hay I got nothing.” I start to pull my clothes back on and stack the books I was reading to finish later. “All I know about my magic is I can hold my gun. Aside from that I can’t cast spells or do anything more. Tell ya what Twi, if it’s not too late after I get back from helping Lotus we can run some experiments. I want to know more just as much as you and I know you like discovering new things.” To witch Twilight smiled bigger then I would have felt happy with as she clapped her hooves. With a slight chuckle I make my way to the door to head over to the spa. “Oh and thanks Rares! Again you are too much and I owe you more and more each day.” Miss science was already hard at work coming up with things to make me do but Rarity and Spike waved me goodbye as I trotted out the door.

Author's Note

*some witty comment here*

Find the mistakes and get fuzzy points, need editor, yadda, yadda, broken record.

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