Worlds Apart

Chapters

Chapter 1: Question!
Chapter 2: Hungry Like the Wolf
Chapter 3: Never Enough
Chapter 4: The Start of Something Beautiful
Chapter 5: Dinner and a Movie
Chapter 6: Gimme Shelter
Chapter 7: All Secrets Known
Chapter 8: The Best of Times
Chapter 9: Home
Chapter 10: All You Need Is Love (BONUS)
Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Question!

On rainy days, it doesn’t get very busy. It gives me a nice moment to myself to watch the world from the window behind the cashiers counter. People walking in the cold as car exhaust fills the air. It all feels so serene. My name is Ian Carlington, and I am the proud owner of Carlington Guitar Emporium. I inherited the store from my now deceased dad who inherited it from his deceased dad.

I absolutely love working at the shop; I like to make pleasantries to the people who know more or less about music and instruments as I do, I like watching other people play the countless guitars and basses that line the walls of the store, and I also love it when people see me play a guitar as I’m tuning it. Mostly though, I enjoy nice little moments like this. I can just let my mind wander off and forget about things for a while.

I hear the bell ring to the entrance and immediately shoot up and give the usual greetings that I give to every customer that walks in. I’ve seen this customer several times before. She’s a young woman around my age (23). She wears a zipped-up black Nightwish hoodie with the Imaginaerum cover art on the back, along with black jeans and black shoes. Her hair is a jet black ponytail that’s draped over her shoulder. She also never wears makeup, but she seems like the kind of girl where no one would care if she did anyways.

Usually, she walks in, fiddles with a few of the bass guitars (and from what I’ve seen, she’s really good), looks at the small rack of CD’s of other musical artists, and then she leaves, always with me saying the usual, “Have a good day,” followed by a, “Yep,” from her.

I see this girl very often in my store and I always think about getting to know her, but I’ve never been quite skillful when talking to someone of the opposite gender, so it always ends up as a usual exchange of pleasantries. I check my watch: 9:13. It’s about fourty-five minutes until closing, but with the rain as bad as it is, mounted with the fact that the weatherman said that it would get worse from here, I decide to close shop early. I grab my coat and keys, lock the doors, and slip out the back of the building to my car, a Kia Forte coupe.

As predicted, it begins pouring harder, which makes my certainty of returning home seem slimmer. I live in a nice house at the top of the hill about twenty minutes from the town where I work. With the rain pouring like this, the road to my house could get rather slippery, making my ascent next to impossible.

I plug in my iPod and crank out some tunes. With the rain this hard, I like to listen to harder music, so I play Demon of the Fall by Opeth. I can’t remember the last time it rained this badly. It really makes me apprehensive about driving my car in this weather. As I finally get to the fated hill of my drive, my Genius playlist changes from the Opeth song to Scaretale by Nightwish. I suddenly think about the girl.

Did she get home safely? I hope she had a car like me.

I carefully make my way up the hill to try and make good traction with the ground. With the fast pace of the Nightwish song, pushing a little too hard on the accelerator becomes common, so I turn off the iPod to keep from stranding myself.

After what feels like an eternity, I finally make it up the hill. In just a couple of minutes, I would finally be in my nice, warm house and snuggle into my nice, warm bed. However, life likes to screw around with you that way…

As I’m pulling up to my garage, my headlights pick up a couple of bodies on the doorstep. I put the car into reverse and position my headlights towards my doorstep. Sure enough, there are two bodies there, lying unconscious. I get out of my car to see who they are. I become shocked that the bodies can’t be referred to as who, but as what.

They both look like horses, but they are unlike any of which I have ever seen. Judging from the eyes of both creatures, I can tell their genders. One of them is white with a blue mane. He has a strange tattoo on his rear that looks like a royal blue shield with a six-pronged star in the center. What freaks me out a little more is that the horse has a horn on its head.

A unicorn? That’s impossible.

That’s nothing compared to the other horse next to it. She is pink in color with a long cream, magenta, and purple striped mane and tail. Her muzzle is a lot smaller and narrower than the other horse. She has a similar tattoo on her rear, but it’s a teal heart with a golden lace around it. Not only does this one also have a horn, but she has wings folded to her body with faded purple tips.

I must be seeing things, right?

I touch one of the wings to see if it was attached on, but I’m shocked to feel every real muscle inside the wing shiver with the cold. I then place my hand on her chest. I can feel the chest moving up and down, indicating that she is alive. I check the same thing with the stallion, and he’s breathing too.

I can’t comprehend this. I have two living unicorns on my doorstep.

I know I can’t leave them out here, but moving their massive bodies would be impossible for me. I knew that “help” would involve a bunch of people who would want to experiment on them, so I know I am the only one who can do anything.

I begin shaking the stallion by pushing it’s stomach and telling it to wake up. Thankfully, only after a few pushes, the unicorn regains consciousness. Upon looking at me, he freaks out.

“What in the hay are you?” he says, trying to back up.

Did my ears deceive me? Did this horse just speak English to me?

“Wait,” he says, ignoring my shocked expression, “do you live here?”

Still shocked over the talking horse in front of me, I manage to pull a slight nod.

“Please sir,” he asks, “my wife and I are lost and it’s very cold out. Will you please let us spend the night?”

My shock begins to dissipate, allowing me to have enough basic motor skills to grab my keys from my pocket and unlock and open the door.

“Thank you so much,” he says before picking up his wife magically with its glowing horn and runs inside.

Wait, what? Horn? These things are magical too?

The shock comes back, leaving me standing like a statue and still holding the door open as the horse carries his “wife” to my living room.

“We need some towels and blankets,” says the unicorn.

Nothing from me.

“Please!” it barks.

I then run to the living room, turn on the lights, and go to the fireplace. I place three fresh logs inside with some dryer lint (which is easily combustable) on the bottom. I take a match from the tinderbox and strike it, throwing the match on the lint. I then run upstairs and grab as many towels as my two arms will carry from my linen closet. I rush down with them and put them next to the two horses. I then say to him that while they dried off, I would grab some comforters and start some tea, which the stallion promptly thanks me for. I go back up to my bedroom and pull two backup comforters from under my bed. I come downstairs and hand the comforters to the stallion.

“Thank you so much,” he says, still drying the both of them off.

I go to the kitchen and begin heating a kettle of water. I put three strainers from my cabinet into a mug each and put a heaping teaspoon of loose leaf tea in the strainers. I then go to see how my guests are doing.

“How is she doing?” I ask, sitting with my back to the side of the fireplace.

“She’s very cold,” he says, “but she’ll be better once we warm her up. Thank you for everything.”

The pink horse then opens her eyes and looks at me for the first time. Her eyes are enormous, which bugs me out a little (no pun intended).

“I have to know,” I say, “where are you from? There’s no way that a couple of unicorns just appear on my doorstep like that.”

“That’s ridiculous,” he angrily states. “This is Equestria; there are unicorn and pegasi ponies everywhere.”

“I’m sorry. What is Equestria?”

“Are you joking? It’s the land we all live on… right?”

“No, this is America.”

“I’ve never heard of that either. Are you making stuff up?”

“I was going to ask you the same question.” The mare breaks up the argument.

“Please, honey, let’s not fight. It’s safe to say that we were sent to a different world.”

“That helps,” I say not sarcastically. “In fact, before we continue, let’s get to know each other. I’m Ian.” I extend my hand to the two, what did he call themselves, ponies? The stallion reached his large hoof out and let me shake it.

“Hi, Ian. I’m Shining Armor.”

Interesting name.

I shake the mare’s hoof next.

“I’m Cadance. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ian.”

“So,” I say, “you said you come from a place called Equestria. Are there others like you there?” The kettle began to whistle. “Give me a minute,” I say, walking to the kitchen. I pour the tea into the mugs and leave to let them steep. “Sorry about that. Please continue.”

“Well,” says Shining Armor, “there are many ponies of different colors and types. My sister and I, Twilight Sparkle, are unicorns. We can use magic.”

“Like what you did to lift Cadance?”

“Exactly. There are pegasi, who have wings to fly, and they control the weather.”

“Control the weather?” I ask. “Weather doesn’t operate on its own?”

“You mean it does that for you?”

I nod.

“Wow, that must be different.” Thunder crashes, causing the two ponies to jump a little.

Funny how life works like that.

“Lastly, there are the earth ponies. They don’t have horns or wings, but they have a special connection to the earth, making them the farmers and agriculturalists of our world.”

“What about her?”

“Excuse me?”

“She has wings and a horn. What’s that all about?”

“She’s an alicorn, which is a winged unicorn.”

“Got it. What do they do?”

“They are considered royalty. Our rulers, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are her aunts.”

“Cool. Who’s your queen?”

“Queen? We don’t have a queen.”

“Then wouldn’t that make your princesses queens?”

“I don’t follow.”

“A king or a queen is the supreme ruler of a monarchist government, with princes and princesses being the heirs to the throne. If a king or a queen happens to be absent, then the prince or princess takes the throne as king or queen.”

“Really? Is that how it works in your world?”

“Touché.”

“Listen, honey,” interrupts Cadance, “I think he has a pretty good understanding of ourselves. I’d really like to know about you, Ian.”

“Excuse me,” I say, getting up again. I go to the kitchen and remove the strainers from the mugs.

“Sugar, Cadance?”

“No thank you, it’s too late for sugar.”

“Fair enough. Armor?”

“Maybe just one lump,” he says.

I pour half a teaspoon of sugar from a jar and stir it in a mug. I hold one mug with my left and two (including the sweetened one) in the other. I hand the ponies their mugs while I sit back down with mine.

“Thank you,” she says. They each take a sip.

“Oh my," says Cadance, "this is delicious. Where do you get it?”

“There’s a tea shop that I visit frequently in the nearby town.”

“That’s fantastic. Now please, Ian, tell us about yourself.”

“Well, my full name is Ian Carlington, but please stick to calling me Ian. This is my home that you are in right now. I own the Carlington Guitar Emporium downtown.”

“You own your own store? That’s amazing! Do you know how to play guitar?”

“Yes. Along with bass, drums, and keyboards.”

“You’ll have to perform for us sometime.” My cheeks turn red, eliciting chuckles from the mare. Once one gets used to her large eyes, she’s actually looks quite adorable. “Where did you learn to play all of those instruments?”

“My dad was the previous owner of the shop. It’s been a family business since my grandfather started it, so in order to properly run the store, I had to learn to play and handle all the instruments so I could relate better to customers.”

“Interesting. Where is your dad now?”

My face becomes somber.

“My dad died of an unexplained heart attack about a year ago.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, losing him was a real pain. But you know what they say, ‘Time heals all wounds.’”

Cadance then walks up to me and gives me a hug. It seems weird that she would do this to a stranger, but I’m grateful that she does it, and I rub her back.

“Wow,” I whisper.

“What?”

“Your fur is so smooth. I could stroke it for hours.”

“Aw, thanks.” She lets go of me and sits back down with Shining Armor.

“That reminds me,” I say, “you two are married or something?”

“Yes,” says Shining Armor. “Is marriage something foreign to your world too?”

“No actually, but that’s beside the point. It’s just I never thought of a marriage between two ponies. Do you love each other?”

“Very much so.”

“That’s good.” Wanting to change the subject, I get to the one question that I wanted to ask this whole time.

“How did you even get here? To my world that is.” Shining Armor tells the story.

“In Equestria, a country of the world we live in, a bunch of our friends in the capital city of Canterlot were outside watching a solar eclipse. As the moon passed over the sun, me and my wife began getting dizzy. I then noticed that we were floating in the air as our bodies began to dissapear. The last sight I remember seeing in Equestria was seeing our friends’ look of worry.”

“Jeez,” I say, finishing the rest of my tea.

“The next thing we know, we’re in the middle of a forest. Neither me or my wife recognized the patterns of the trees that grow in the forests around Canterlot. We just galloped around and called for help, hoping that someone would answer us. We continued moving until it began to rain.

"As the rain got harder and harder, we found your house. We knocked on the door hoping for an answer, but when no one came, and realizing that other civilizations wouldn’t be around for many more miles to just continue on foot, we waited at your door for someone, anyone to come. After we fainted from the cold, you found us, and let us into your home. For that we are very grateful.”

“Don't worry," I say, putting my hand up. "I would never leave a suffering creature alone.”

“I also wanted to ask,” says Cadance, “your house is marvelous. How did you afford it?”

“When my grandfather ran the store during the 60’s and 70’s, the store gained a massive boom of business due to the popularity of many rock artists at the time: The Who, Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. When Grandpa passed, he left a massive inheritance to my dad, which he used to build this house.”

“Wow,” says Cadance wearily about her surroundings.

“Business continued to thrive in the metal periods of the 80’s and grunge and alternative eras of the 90’s when my dad took over the store after Grandpa died. These profits he used to furnish this house to what you see.”

I then notice that Cadance and Shining Armor are asleep while sitting. I gently shake Armor’s shoulder, which wakes him up.

“I think we should get to bed,” I say.

I direct him to my parents’ old bedroom where I say they can sleep. I lift the covers up so Shining Armor can magically put his wife down on the bed. He then crawls into the bed with Cadance. Shining Armor tries to pull the covers over him and his wife, but passes out before he can do so. I smile as I pull the covers over the two and watch them sleep. I then go back down to put the mugs in the dishwasher and turn off all of the lights. I then head to my room and lay down on the bed. I begin to fall asleep while smiling, content that I did something good today.

Chapter 2: Hungry Like the Wolf

I wake up feeling quite refreshed. I try thinking it was nothing but a dream, but there’s a nagging feeling that everything that happened last night actually happened. In the film Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio said, “Dreams feel real when we’re in them, but it’s only until we wake up that we realize that something was actually strange.”

I fully agree with this. But nothing felt strange about this “dream.” I can remember every little thing about it. The taste of my tea, the cold of the rain, the warmth of the fire, and Cadance’s soft fur. It really makes me glad that it was real, because despite my comfort in living alone in my house, it does feel nice to have company occasionally, even if company is a pair of unicorns from a different world.

One would think that having a bunch of unicorns in my house would bring out the worst in me and make me feel quite stressed. On the contrary, these ponies are the most interesting thing in my life since my dad died. Maybe that’s why I was so comfortable with talking to them. I certainly didn’t want them to feel scared in the presence of a strange alien creature, but there’s something more to my ease around them than just that.

Last night, I learned that there’s a whole other world beyond my own, inhabited by equines of supposed myth; two of which are sleeping in my parents’ old bedroom. I’ve always had thoughts about the possibilities of different worlds, and it certainly helped the blow of two otherworldly inhabitants coming into my life like they did. The thing about it was, it felt like I was supposed to be unafraid by them. During our conversation, it was like they were emanating an aura around them that let me know that they meant no harm. It’s like my mind could instinctively trust them.

I think I’m going to leave the shop closed today. There’s still a lot about our world that they’d love to know about I’m sure, and I can’t let them be alone in my house with all of the different things in my world that must be foreign to them. Then again, I’m not sure what was foreign to them. They didn’t explain much about the technologies of their world; maybe their technology is more advanced than ours. Now I have more questions again. I can hardly wait for them to wake up again.

I go downstairs to pour myself a glass of milk, tiptoeing past my parents’ old room to prevent waking Armor and Cadance up. I walk quietly down the stairs and into the kitchen. It seems that for as quiet as I hoped to be, I’m not quite quiet enough. I hear the bedroom door open. Outside comes Shining Armor. He looks to be treading quietly, hoping to not wake Cadance. I can see that his eyes are red.

Was he tired or was he crying?

He doesn’t seem to notice me as he makes his way to the fireplace. As he lays down, he finally looks in my direction. My appearance gives him quite a scare. I put my arms up and tell him that I’m not going to hurt him.

“Are you alright?” I ask.

Shining Armor sniffs.

Yep. He’s been crying.

“What’s the matter?” I soon realize that’s a stupid question and decide to be more direct. “You miss your friends and family, don’t you?”

Shining Armor’s tears begin to fall again after I betray his emotions. I walk over to him and sit next to him. I try to stroke his mane in an effort to make him feel better, but the stallion still cries.

“I’m scared, Ian,” says Armor. “I may never see them again. I’m stuck in a strange world taking solace from an alien.”

Ouch.

I ask him about Cadance.

“She let everything out last night. I hope she didn’t wake you.”

Now, I’m feeling like a jerk. I was happily asleep in my bed while my two guests were scared and alone.

“I’m sorry,” I say, “I was sound asleep. Please believe me when I say that I would have tried to help you if you were feeling scared. I’d know I’d be if I was in your situation, even more so. Unlike me, you and Cadance have familiar arms to cry into. I would have been all on my own if I was in your situation.” These words help Shining Armor a little bit, but he’s still sad, and rightfully so.

“Listen,” he says, “I appreciate all that you have done for us, but we don’t want to be a burden on you. I’ll get Cadance and we’ll leave to go find help.”

“Where do you think you’ll go?”

“I don’t know. But Cadance and I agreed that we would be happier trying to make progress on getting back home than causing you any more trouble.” I rest my hand on the side of Armor’s neck. Like Cadance, his fur is also soft.

“No,” I say. “Your being here has really brightened my spirits. I know that you have friends and family to get back to, but I won’t be able to feel comfortable knowing that you’re out there looking for help that may or may not come.”

“What are you telling me?”

“I’m saying that if you wish to stay here until help finally arrives, I would not object to that. Mi casa es su casa.”

“What?”

“My house is your house.”

Shining Armor’s smile comes on. He nuzzles his head into my chest as I gently hug his neck.

“Thank you,” he says. “You really are a true friend.”

Hearing our conversation, Cadance comes down the stairs shortly after. Shining Armor tells her about my proposition to let them stay, which I confirm for extra clarity. She becomes excited and wraps her arms over my shoulders and putting the bottom of her head on my back. I return the embrace.

“Who wants breakfast?” I ask.

I ask Cadance about the diet of a pony from her world, namely what one would eat for breakfast. She says that a good breakfast can include pancakes, potatoes, fruit salads, basically anything a human would eat that wasn’t meat (minus eggs, strangely). I don’t want to tell them about the diet of a human… yet. I won’t tell them before breakfast for fear of having them lose their appetite, nor will I tell them afterwards for fear of making them sick to their stomach. If the question is popped, I will then discuss it. For now, I have to make a nice breakfast for my new friends.

“How does eggs and pancakes sound?” I ask.

“That sounds awesome,” states Shining Armor.

“We like our eggs scrambled,” says Cadance.

I acknowledge her request with a smile and nod. I begin heating the two pans for pancakes and eggs. Using almost all of the eggs I had in my fridge, I mix five in a bowl with some milk, salt, and pepper. I then crack three more eggs into a bowl of flour, sugar, and milk with some cinnamon for the pancakes. I could have used the pre-made batter mix to make it easier, but if the mare was really a princess, she would get better than Hungry Jack.

I pour three medium sized pancakes onto the hot pan. As the pancakes cook, I cut up a mixture of strawberries and kiwis for a nice little fruit salad. I flip the pancakes, revealing a wonderfully golden brown top. I cut the remaining strawberries and kiwi into a bowl. I put each of the finished pancakes on a plate for the three of us. I pour the egg mixture into the other pan. Next, I make three more pancakes in the original pan. I begin stirring the eggs until they coagulate into yellow, fluffy mounds. I flip the next round of pancakes, which look as perfect as the first.

I give the eggs another good stir, and then I stack the next round of pancakes on the first round. I then push the finished eggs from the pan to the plates. Butter and syrup has been placed on the dining room table where Cadance and Armor are sitting. I hand my guests their plates and put the fruit salad on the table. As they put their syrup and butter on the pancakes, I grab my plate and refill their cups of orange juice.

“I never really got an answer,” says Armor, “what kind of creature are you?”

“I’m what is known as a human.”

“Heeooman?”

“Exactly.”

“Are you creatures vegetarian too?” questions Cadance.

Darn. I was hoping to avoid this.

I don’t know what to do. I either could delay the inevitable until the end of the meal, but if it was to be so disturbing that it would require a wait for the answer, then I would certainly ruin breakfast with their worry. I act in a spur of the moment.

“I’m an omnivore,” I admit.

I picked my poison and was prepared with the worst. As expected, Cadance and Armor stop eating and look at me with worried looks on their faces.

“You eat meat?” gasps Armor.

“Not pony meat, I promise you.”

"What kind of meat then?”

I didn’t know how to answer this either. I run the risk of admitting that I eat beef, pork, fish, and poultry, all animals that could be sentient in their world. I knew that if I tried denying anything, they would certainly find the package of hot dogs or deli turkey in my meat drawer in the fridge. Seeing no better alternative, I tell them the truth.

There is a bit of agonizing silence. I thought of saying that the animals here aren’t sentient, but that would just come off as an excuse. Cadance begins to bow her head.

“Fine,” sighs Cadance, a bit harshly. She then gets really close to my face, causing me to sweat a little, but she still talks quite calmly. “I can understand that your kind has meat in their diet, but please understand that it pains me to see the meat of any animal be devoured by another. Where we come from, all of those animals you said are all sapient like us; it would be like watching a friend of yours being eaten. If I can ask you just one more favor, please promise me that you won't eat meat in my presence. okay?"

I knew it.

I can certainly empathize with her and have no reason to be angry at her. If I were to be sent to a place where it's inhabitants ate dogs, cats, or any other animal that could be considered a human's companion, I wouldn't feel comfortable around them either. I decide to take the civil approach.

“You have my word," I state, raising my hand up like a boy scout.

Cadance sits back down and continues her meal.

I need to get out of the house to clear up some of the tension.

“I need to leave,” I say.

“Where are you going?” asks Shining Armor.

I respond, “I need to put a notice on my shop telling them I’m closed for the day.”

“What for?”

“I want to give you guys a tour of my house so you can be more acquainted with what goes on here, and I don’t want you two here alone in my house while I’m out with all of this technology here.”

“Wait,” queries Cadance, “this isn’t about breakfast, is it?”

“Partially,” I admit, “but you had every reason to be frightened. If I was in your shoes, I’d be wary of me too.”

“I’m not frightened. A little disturbed and disgusted sure, but you promised that you wouldn’t eat meat here. As long as you keep that promise, I won’t be scared of you.”

I couldn’t believe her. I just admitted that I was practically a barbarian, and yet she still accepts me as a friend that she can trust. Now it’s my turn to hug her. She jumps a little at my action, but my tender grope lulls her back into ease.

“Thank you for still trusting me,” I whisper in her ear.

She pats my back with my hoof and says, “Yeah. No problem.”

As I’m walking out the door, I remember something.

“Oh right,” I state, “I should also go to the store. If I’m going to have two more mouths to feed, I’m going to need to get some groceries. Is that okay?”

“Sure thing,” responds Shining Armor.

“Please don’t do anything dumb while I’m gone okay?”

With that, I leave the trust of my house to two unicorn ponies, getting in my car and going.

I first stop at my shop. I go to the desk and begin writing my note. I merely write that my house is having electrical problems due to the previous night’s storm and that I needed to be at my house while a technician fixes the problem. Easy. As I’m writing the note, I look up for a second. I notice the girl from last night pacing outside the entrance.

She has to know I’m in here. But I can’t just ignore her or shoo her away. I suppose if I let her wander the store for a few minutes, that wouldn’t be hurting anything.

I then turn the lock on the door, open it and let her inside.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hey,” she answers back.

“I’d love for you to stay, but I’m actually closing the shop today.”

“Really? What for?”

“My house is freaking out because of the storm last night, so I need to hang out there while a technician fixes it.”

“That’s cool. I was just going to buy some strings and be on my way.”

Wait, she actually wants to buy something today?

“Strings?" I query, "What kind?”

“For my bass.”

“A bass? What kind of bass, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“A Rickenbacker Model 4004L Laredo.”

“Nice bass that is."

“Yeah. It belongs to my dad, but I’m really the only one that uses it, so it technically belongs to me.” I open the back of the glass display case and pick a set of strings that would best suit a Rickenbacker.

“These are some of the best strings I have available,” I state, “but they are a bit pricey.”

“I don’t mind,” she answers with a shake of her head.

“Alright then,” I say, ringing her up. “That will be $38.24.” She hands me a fifty from her wallet

“Keep the change,” she says.

“Really?” I reply.

“Well, all I usually do is come in here and fiddle with the instruments, so I figured this was worth your trouble.”

“It was no trouble at all. Please, let me give you your change.”

“Okay," she groans, "fine.”

I activate the cash register, put the fifty dollar bill in its proper spot, and take out $11.76. As I turn to hand the change to the girl, all I see is her walking out the door and down the street.

“Well,” I sighed. I put the eleven dollars under the drawer and pocket the 3 quarters.

I lock the front door back up and place the "Closed" sign on the door. I turn off the lights and lock the back door. My next stop is the grocery store. I always like shopping at the Jewel-Osco because I can always go after work since it’s on my way home. Plus, sometimes I can grab a movie from the Redbox before I shop. I don’t think it’s time to introduce Shining Armor and Cadance to movies just yet. I’ll wait until they become more accustomed to this world.

Once I get inside the store, I grab a cart and spend a good portion of my time in the produce section. Ponies that I know like apples, so I make several bags of those. I also grab some lettuce for salads. I also would like to make something special for my guests, so I get the ingredients to make my tomato salsa: eight tomatoes, two red onions, six jalapenos, a bunch of cilantro, and two limes. I have plenty of garlic back at home since I use it in a large amount of my cooking. With the salsa in mind, I decide to get some peppers, a sweet onion, and tortillas to make vegetarian fajitas for dinner tonight.

I then head to the canned vegetables section for black beans and then to the dairy section for cheddar cheese and sour cream. Another reason I shop at Jewel is because they have the absolute best fajita marinade on the shelves. It’s in a rectangular plastic bottle with a blue label with gold borders and a drawing of a desert; you can’t miss it. I pick up a bottle of that. While I’m at it, I pick up some more limes.

As you can tell, I’m a very haphazard shopper, never combing through an aisle one by one. I just get what’s on my mind. Then I remember something. I haven’t had cucumber sandwiches in a long time (I rest my case). I pick out a couple of cucumbers from produce, a couple more tomatoes, and some carrots for the salads. I then go to the deli for some swiss cheese, then for croutons, parmesan cheese, and dressings (I got italian and raspberry vinaigrette) for the salad, and some white and rye bread for my cucumber sandwiches.

Lastly, I go to the liquor aisle for some Budweiser Lime-a-Rita’s and beer (who knows? Maybe they’ll like it. If not, more for me). The lines at self-checkout are always non-existent and take less time, which makes me wonder why no one goes there. In about five minutes, I ring up all of my items and bag them. I’m finally able to get into my car and drive back home to hopefully not find my house in a state of total disarray.

As I walk into the house with the groceries, I find Shining Armor and Cadance cleaning my house.

“Oh hi, Ian,” calls Shining Armor, “let me get those for you.”

He levitates both bags to the kitchen with his magic.

Man, I’m never going to get used to that.

“Are you…” I begin, “…cleaning my house?” I ask.

“Well, just this floor anyways,” chimes Cadance.

“I figured since you are being nice enough to let us live here indefinitely, we’d help clean up for you," answered Shining Armor.

“That’s very nice of you," I speak, "but you might as well leave the kitchen be. I’m going to make dinner right now.”

“Dinner at eleven in the morning?”

“It needs to marinade.”

“What does?”

“I got peppers and a bunch of other things. We’re making vegetarian fajitas.”

Shining Armor helps me unpack my grocery bags when he asks, “What’s a fajita?”

“Fajitas, in our case at least, is grilled onions and peppers in a tortilla. I’ll also be making some fresh salsa to go with them.”

“That sounds really good,” says Cadance with a bright smile.

“Just let me chop and marinate these veggies and we’ll begin that tour, how does that sound?”

“Great,” call the two in tandem.

“You can go rest now. Thank you for all your work.”

They decide to go to the living room and lie on the couch. I take my iPad out of my cabinet and switch it to my list of Santana songs. I like listening to music while cooking; it puts me in a whole other mood. However, the music I listen to depends on the meal I’m cooking, in this case, Spanish, so Santana seems fitting. Oye Como Va by Santana comes on. The music instantly alerts Cadance and Shining Armor. They walk into the kitchen and look at my tablet in confusion.

“Hey Ian,” wonders Shining Armor, “where’s that music coming from?”

I explain to him my iPad and how it can play music electronically though files known as MP3s.

“We still use records back home,” Cadance replies. “How many songs can that hold anyways?”

“Well, it’s a thirty-two gigabyte machine, so I’d say about twenty-four-hundred songs.”

Shining Armor’s mouth can’t help but drop, causing me to giggle. “Alright,” I laugh, “Please let me get back to work so we can start the tour." The two ponies walk back wordlessly.

After about fifteen minutes of slicing peppers and onions into a bowl, I pour the marinade over them. Once I put the bowl into the fridge, I notice that my meat drawer was replaced with the fruits and vegetables that I just bought.

They must have cleaned me of all of my meat. It’s best I don’t bring it up. Plus, if they're going to live here indefinitely, it would've gone bad anyways.

I call Shining Armor and his wife to the living room. It’s time to begin my tour.

Having been acquainted with the middle and top floors, I show them the more foreign places of the house. I begin by showing them the bathroom, to which Shining Armor responded he figured out already, causing my face to turn bright red. I tell them that they can use my shower if needing to be cleaned.

I take them out to the back deck, which they seem to like, as it gives them a nice view of the forest and valley. On the back deck, I show them the grill where I’d cook tonight’s dinner. Out on the other side, I show them the Jacuzzi, where they can go any time to relax.

Once that’s done, I take them to the best room (in my opinion) in the house: my basement. It was arguably much bigger and better furnished than most of the other rooms in the house. The basement was separated by the stairway leading to it. On one side, there was a big screen TV with a Blu-Ray player, a shelf with a collection of movies, a few couches around the TV, and a small bar.

On the other side is where I keep all of my instruments. Hanging on the wall is around five six-stringed and five bass guitars. In the back center was my drum set. To the right of the drums was an eighty-eight keys, state-of-the-art keyboard. Finally, on the left of the drum set was a peculiar looking instrument. It was simply a large fretboard with ten strings and a diagonal shaped pickup at the bottom.

“What kind of instrument is that?” observes Cadance.

“It’s called a Chapman stick,” I answer. “This was my father’s choice instrument. All you do is tap the strings and they make the sound. Watch.”

I plug the machine into an amp and turn it on. I begin playing the opening riff to Rush’s Xanadu on the right side of the instrument.

“The lower strings are for bass.”

I play the bass solo from Dream Theater’s Metropolis Pt. 1 on the left side, dazzling Cadance and Shining Armor.

“The point of the instrument is to play both guitar parts and bass parts at the same time."

I play Stash by Phish using both sides of the instrument. The two, again, were impressed. Strangely, the concept of electricity didn’t seem to be an issue with these two. They’ve seen me flip lights on and, just now, to turn on my amp and play my instrument, but they don’t say anything.

Perhaps they have it as well? I’d like to ask them about that, but maybe during our salsa appetizer.

I head back up the stairs after putting my instrument away.

“Wait,” cries Shining Armor, “aren’t you going to play some more?”

“Perhaps,” I respond, “but right now, I need to make salsa.”

Recipe for my "Famous" Salsa:

4 On-The-Vine Tomatoes (stems removed

3 Jalapeno Peppers, seeded

1 Large Red Onion, peeled

1-3 Cloves of Fresh Garlic, peeled

Juice of 1 Lime

Fresh Cilantro to taste

Salt to taste

1/2 teaspoon Lime Zest (optional)

In electronic food chopper, add tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, cilantro, and garlic and chop until all vegetables are chopped equally. The size of the pieces will be very small, so you could say that this is more of a picante recipe. If you don't own a food chopper, dice or mince tomatoes, jalapenos, and onion and mince cilantro and garlic.
2.Add chopped vegetables and spices into container which can be sealed.
Add lime juice (and lime zest, if applicable) to container and stir until fully mixed.
Add salt, stirring until mixed.
For best results, store in fridge overnight for flavors to meld.

Chapter 3: Never Enough

Around four o’clock, I put a bowl of freshly prepared, homemade salsa on a round table with another larger bowl of tortilla chips. I realize that Shining Armor and Cadance can’t sit on the chairs around the table, so I take the cushions from them and lay them out on the floor for my guests to sit down at and enjoy their before-dinner snack.

“So you just scoop and eat?” asks Cadance.

“Exactly,” I say, scooping some salsa with a chip and eating it to demonstrate. I had the urge to rub my tummy to tell them that it was good, but that would just seem condescending. Cadance uses her magic horn to replicate my actions. After taking a bite, her eyes brighten.

Is it really that good?

“Oh Ian,” sighs Cadance, “this is delicious.”

“Thanks,” I stammer, blushing. No one has ever been this kind about my culinary skills.

“Listen, I was going down to the bar to get a drink. Do you want me to bring you anything?”

“Do you by chance have any wine?” asks Cadance.

So much for the booze I bought today.

“Red or white?” I ask.

“Surprise me.”

“Shining Armor?” I question, redirecting my gaze towards the white unicorn.

“What was in that box you bought?” asks Shining Armor.

“Beer and Lime-A-Ritas.”

“What’s a Lime-A-Rita?”

“Hold on.”

I go downstairs to the bar fridge and grab a few cans. After going back to the kitchen, I grab a glass from my cupboard, pop the tab on the can, and pour a few sips for a sample. I hand (or should I say, “He took the glass from my hand with magic"?) him his sample. He takes the sips. A large smile breaks across Shining Armor’s face.

I smile as I ask, “I take it that you like it?”

“One of those please."

Cadance stops me before I walk in with, “Actually, I’d like one too.”

I go back downstairs for another can. They’re only eight-ounce cans, and I have twelve-ounce glasses and I’d like to fill them. I fill each glass halfway with ice, and then I pour a can into each glass, topping them with the extra and putting a straw in each one. I grab each glass with my hand until I realize that there is now no way for me to open the door. Shining Armor uses his horn to pull the sliding door open, and I thank him. I place the drinks on the table and give them to each pony.

I seriously can’t believe that I’m drinking with a pair of unicorns.

I lift my glass. “Here’s to safety, and new friendships.”

I clink my glass with Shining Armor’s and Cadance’s and we each take a sip.

“Oh, that IS good,” comments Cadance. “It’s a little strong, but I like it. I might just have another one with dinner.”

“Great,” I say. As we continue to dine on our snack before I get the coals started, Shining Armor begins to talk to me.

“So tell me Ian, what’s it like to own your own store?”

“I really like it. I get to talk to customers who are as big of fans of music as I am, I get to help them with any instrument related problems, and I, on occasion, get to play a little.”

“Assuming since your father’s death, I guess that’s how long you’ve actually been running the store.”

“More or less. I actually began working alongside my dad after I was finished with college just a mere four months before he died.”

“College? What did you study?”

“Mostly business related classes so I could better run the shop when it was officially passed on to me. What about you Armor? What do you two do for a living?”

“Well,” states Shining Armor proudly, “I am the captain of the Canterlot’s Royal Guard.”

“Royal Guard?” I ask.

Shining Armor answers, “It’s the Princesses’ personal protection service, and if needed, the bulk of the Equestrian army.”

“Is that what that tattoo on your rump is all about?” I ask, pointing at it.

“Naw, that’s my cutie mark.” The new phrase causes me to cock my head to the side.

“Cutie what?”

“A cutie mark. It’s a symbol that magically appears on the flank of a pony when he or she finds their special talent.”

“I take it that yours refers to your duty as a captain?”

“Yeah.” I then look at Cadance’s cutie mark.

“What does yours mean?” I inquire.

“Mine refers to my ability to spread love to other ponies.”

“Interesting. Did you use that on Shining Armor to get him to be your husband?”

“Please,” said Shining Armor, “she doesn’t need magic to make me love her.” He leans into her and kisses her on the cheek.

“Oh you!” she giggles while blushing.

These two really do love each other. It’s like their mere presence around one another brings out the very best in them.

“What about you?” asked Cadance. “Do you have a very special somepony of your own?”

“No,” I say, “and I frankly don’t plan to.”

My response almost makes both unicorns spit their drinks.

“You don’t WANT a special somepony? But why?”

“From what I experienced, the relationships I’ve seen, minus yours it seems, are nothing but struggles for power and misery to anyone involved, including and especially the children.” Shining Armor and Princess Cadance can’t believe what I’m saying. Marriage? Misery? It couldn’t be true.

“What happened with you that makes you think so lowly on relationships?” I tell them more about my past.

“When my dad was in his twenties, he met a young woman named Mallory. When they began dating, my dad said he was madly in love with her. She knew that he was the son of my grandfather, and thus the heir to the music shop, but she claimed that she loved my dad for my dad.” Cadance looks a little uneasy as she already has a feeling she knows how this story will end.

“My mom and dad were finally married on July 19th, 1985. Four years later, they had me. Once my grandpa died, my dad became the full-fledged owner of the shop. That’s where my personal agony began. I mean, I was too young to fully grasp my grandpa’s death, but I certainly remembered the tears my dad shed. With the full ownership of the store, my dad was able to buy his wife the luxuries she always wanted. Nice car, valuable jewelry, this house.

"Unfortunately, it only filled a fraction of the hole mom had made for herself. She continued to have my dad buy things for her: fancy dinners, expensive trips, exquisite coats, all to the point where she was having more money spent on her than me or even my dad combined. She certainly gave more attention to her new valuables than she did either of us.”

Shining Armor and Cadance start to look angry upon learning of the manipulative motives of the one that was supposed to be my dad’s "lover."

“I was sixteen on the day where everything really hit the fan. My mom asked my dad to buy her this fancy gold choker, but my dad told me he couldn’t, on the grounds that by doing so, he couldn’t afford to keep his shop, just to let you know how far of a hole she was digging for us all. My mom was always so used to being told ‘Yes’ that she had a huge tantrum about my dad not loving her enough to buy her something.

"Taking interest of business in my public school experience, I certainly understood the value of money and how much this act of indulgence could set our family back. I certainly had a better understanding than my mom anyways. My mom then made a rage-drunken comment about selling the store for her. Curses were launched, and then she had the audacity to kick my dad of the house that he bought.

“The days I spent with my mom and the divorce trial that ensued were among the worst of my life.” Shining Armor and Cadance gasped at the word “divorce.” They tell me that despite the act existing in their world, it was a very rare and very sad occasion. I continued. “She clearly didn’t know how to raise me, being more focused on her possessions than her own son. When the divorce trial finally came, the only solace I can say that I had was that it was the most time I spent with him in that period. That and the actual trial.”

Cadance and Armor gave me confused looks.

“When my mom took the stand for the rights to the house, her entire platform was basically nothing more than empty attacks at my dad about how much she claimed he didn’t love her. When my dad took the stand, he had receipts and bank account information from the course of their entire marriage that proved that among all of the transactions made, a vast majority of them were spent on his wife."

I solidified this defense in the custody hearings, saying that the fact that all of these expenses were a testament to how much my dad tried to make her happy. I also broke apart my mom’s defense of her 'love' for my dad and I. I gave her simple questions about ourselves. I asked things like what my favorite foods, music, movies, and books were. She didn’t get a single answer right, but my dad had them all right. I even asked her what my dad’s favorite musical instrument was.”

Shining Armor answered, “Chapman stick, right?” I nodded.

“You were able to correctly answer what you learned in a single second what it took my mom 20 years to answer incorrectly.

“I finished my defense saying that any mercy shown towards my mom would be an act of injustice. After considering everything, my dad was given full custody of me and his house without having to spend a single penny on her. It may not have been the happiest days of my life, but it was certainly one of my happiest moments. Ever since that day, I have not heard or seen anything of my mom.

“It took about 6 years for my dad to pull us back out of her debts, including helping me through college. I even took an intern job to help my dad out, since he was paying for my studies after all. When I graduated college, we were finally back on track. I was 22 at the time. I thought that without mom and the hole she put us in, we could finally get back on with our lives. Of course, 4 months passed... and…”

I lower my head, hoping to conceal the tears that were beginning to run down my cheeks.

“Ian?” asks Cadance, putting her hoof to my hand. Upon feeling her, I stand up and quickly wipe my eyes with my wrist, sniffling slightly. I then open the sliding door and run into my bedroom.

Feeling alone again, I feel comfortable to let it all out. I couldn’t believe what I had done. I had relived and told my darkest memories to a pair of unicorns that I have only known for less than a day. In fact, they’re the only ones I’ve ever told about my past. It’s something that I’ve always hoped to bottle inside for all of my life so I could spare anyone, including myself, the telling and reliving of my story.

So why did I tell these two everything?

“Ian?” said Cadance, opening my door and peeking her head in.

“Go away!” I yell, as I throw my pillow at her head. She screams a little and pulls her head away before the pillow can hit her. “Why did you have to press on?” I continue to yell. “Couldn’t you just let me be? I…” I begin to realize what I am saying, and I begin to cry even harder.

Not only was my telling of my past entirely my fault, but I had lashed out at the only ones who tried to help me. Despite them being of an entirely different species and having known them for so little, they still cared for me. I suddenly began to realize that in the year since my dad’s death, there really hasn’t been a single person I could call a confidant that I could tell my story to.

The experience with my mom, a person who was supposed to care and nurture me, disillusioned all sense of trust and compassion with anyone from me. Sure, I enjoy my time with the customers at my shop, but I know that they will leave eventually and I can be alone again.

These two ponies came into my life and showed me such kindness and compassion, even beyond their gratefulness that I let them live in my home. They appreciate my being with them, even though this world isn’t their home. They love me unconditionally despite me being a different species. I begin to realize that that is why I told them. With the trust I began to have for them and they with me, I felt like they would finally be the ones to help me alleviate the burden I’ve carried on my shoulders for so long.

Hopefully my outburst didn’t scare them off.

“Cadance? Armor?” I expect a long, uncomfortable silence, either from them being too scared to face me in my state, or they have run away altogether. Instead, to my surprise, I immediately see Cadance and Shining Armor walk into my room, having been waiting for me the whole time.

“Ian,” began Cadance, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know-”

“No,” I interrupt. “It’s my fault. I was the one who decided to tell you.”

“Why did you though?”

“I wanted to give you an answer. Judging by the reactions to my story, love seems like a very important thing to you two. I knew that I couldn’t just settle with, ‘My mom was a total jerk;’ It doesn’t seem justifiable enough of a reason for my decision to live alone. So I told you hoping that would suffice. Plus,” I sniffed, “you two have been wonderful guests, and I really like you two.”

“I like you too,” coos Cadance, brushing my hair with her hoof.

“Anyways,” I continue, sitting up on the bed, “ever since my dad died, I haven’t told anyone about it; I just couldn’t feel like I could trust anyone after what my mom did to dad.”

“Your mom?”

“Me and my dad spent the last six years of his life cleaning up the mess she made. I’ve always attributed the stress of his debt as the reason for his heart attack. Seeing as my own mother caused the person whom I cared about the most to die, I closed myself away. And then you two showed up. I began to enjoy your company, and then you asked me the question.

"I felt that I shouldn’t hold it in any longer. I decided to tell you because I had this strange feeling that I could trust you to be there for me. I just didn’t know that it would be this hard.”

I begin sobbing again. Cadance and Shining Armor approach me and give me a hug.

“You never have to be alone,” says Shining Armor. “There will always be somepony to let you cry over their shoulder. They’re out there; you just have to find them, that’s all.”

I still continue to sob as I hold the furry arms holding me.

“Ian,” says Cadance, “I’m so sorry that had happened to you. No one should have to go through that, but no one should ever think that they have to live alone with that kind of burden. You’re our friend, Ian, and we will be there for you.”

My crying begins to cease significantly as I squeeze my friends tighter.

“Thank you so much,” I weep. “And I’m sorry for lashing out at you.”

“That’s alright,” sighs Cadance. “Come on, let’s continue our drinks.”

“Would you give me a couple of minutes?” I ask.

“Sure thing.” The two give me another hug and leave me in my bedroom.

I lie in my bed contemplating all that happened to me in the past fifteen minutes. I had just told my past to a pair of unicorns that I’ve hardly known. I guess it was safe to say that I really trusted them. In a year of wallowing in sadness, they come right out of the blue and accept me as a friend, something that I thought I never needed.

After feeling how happy I was having gotten that off of my back and how supportive they were, I begin to see how necessary friends really are. Feeling the most alive since my father’s death, I practically run down the stairs to the back deck, eager to join my friends.

“Feeling better?” asks Shining Armor.

“Much,” I respond. “Now, where were we?” Cadance remembered.

“I was discussing if you had a very special somepony of your own, but you’ve already made your point on that.”

I smirk.

“Actually,” I admit, “there is this one girl…”

Chapter 4: The Start of Something Beautiful

As Shining Armor, Cadance, and I continue our snack, I tell them about the girl that frequently comes into my store, and how we had a conversation this morning and she bought those strings.

“Do you like her?” asks Shining Armor.

“I never really spoke to her before until today, so it’s a little early to judge.”

“You have to go to work tomorrow, right?” questions Cadance.

“Yeah?”

“So why don’t you try talking to her tomorrow?”

“I don’t know,” I moaned sheepishly. “What if I’m swamped with customers or she doesn’t even show up?”

“That’s not the most positive thinking,” chides Cadance. “Just try your best to have a conversation with her. Get her to trust you like you did with us.”

After all that I had been through today, I think it would be in my best interest to bite the bullet and try something new.

“Alright,” I say. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”

“That’s the spirit!” cheered Shining Armor.

His enthusiasm makes me smile.

“Who’s hungry?” I ask. I go to the grill and set the coals alight.
________________________________________________________________________________________

I set the plate of grilled peppers on the table along with a stack of corn tortillas, sour cream, cheese, and black beans with the salsa on the side. After carefully constructing, my fajita, I take a bite, savoring its spicy goodness.

Even without steak, I can make a wicked fajita!

I watch intently as Shining Armor and Cadance are going to take their first bite out of their very first fajita. Their teeth bite in and they chew. Shining Armor’s eyes close as he leans his head back, making happy moaning noises as he eats. Cadance’s eyes roll into the back of her head and she lowers her head in pleasure as she makes a hearty, “Mmmmm.”

“Is everything good?” I ask.

“This is wonderful,” says Cadance. “Ian, with your cooking abilities, I wouldn’t see how a girl wouldn’t love you.” Her compliment makes me blush… a lot. Cadance giggles. Shining Armor is making another one already despite still being on his first one. One could say that’s rude, but I consider it a compliment.

Cadance and Shining Armor tell me that they will do the dishes, and that I should jump into the Jacuzzi until they are done with the dishes, during which time, they will join me. I go upstairs to my room and put my bathing suit on. As I walk down, I can see that Cadance and Shining Armor are actually almost done with the dishes. Their horns were glowing as I saw almost all of the dishes being levitated in the air.

Wow. Magic really does make everything easier.

I take off my shirt and throw it on the deck and toss my towel on a chair. I turn on the jets and set my feet into the water. The water temperature is perfect. I step down the stairs and into the center of the pool. I then bend my knees and lower myself until I am fully submerged in the water. I near-immediately pop out and float to one of the seats, putting my arms on the pools edge and immersing myself in the wonderful Thursday afternoon.

Mere minutes after I come in, Shining Armor and Cadance walk up to me and join me in the pool, towels set to the chair next to mine, wrapped sloppily on the arm.

“Oooh,” sighed Cadance, “the water is divine. I may never want to get out.”

“Like I said,” I begin to joke, “you’re free to the Jacuzzi anytime.” Cadance giggles. Her laugh is absolutely adorable. Along with her pink fur, her large eyes, and her long mane as it wades on the water, she is certainly a gem, even by human standards. She eventually catches me staring at her.

“Is something wrong?” questions Cadance.

I’m immersed by how wonderful she looks. “You’re so freakin’ gorgeous,” I quietly slur. Cadance is taken aback by my statement, blushing brighter than a ripe strawberry, but smiles knowing that I mean it solely as a compliment.

“Hey now,” chuckles Shining Armor, noogying my head, “that’s my wife you’re talking about.” I laugh along with him. I rest back at my spot.

“Oh Shining Armor,” I say, “what’s your secret?”

“Secret to what?”

“What were you able to do that could allow you to have such a wife like Cadance? Even beyond her stunning appearance…” Cadance blushes again, “…but she’s easily one of the kindest and most caring individuals I’ve ever met.”

“It’s not that hard,” laughs Armor. “You just have to muster the courage to ask her. I remember the day like it was yesterday. Do you remember it, dear?”

“Please,” says Cadance, “you tell the story much better than I do.” I direct all of my attention towards Shining Armor as he tells his story.

”Me and my friends were playing catch outside in the Canterlot Royal Guard Training Academy grounds, when all of the sudden, one of my friends tosses the ball too hard. Over in the distance, I see a pair of mares walking and gossiping amongst each other, completely unaware of the ball as it was heading in their direction.

“I scream, ‘You two. Look out!’ They turned around only to see the ball in coming towards them. Knowing they couldn’t react in time, I use a spell that stops the ball and prevents them from hitting them. I gallop over to my ball to retrieve it and apologize to the mares. As I looked at one of them, I was immediately captivated by her beauty.

“I try saying that I was sorry, but according to Cadance, all I managed to do was make a long winded sigh. She then looked at my cutie mark and noticed the star. ‘Hey,’ she said, ‘you wouldn’t happen to be related to a pony named Twilight Sparkle, would you?’ Upon mentioning her name, my interest skyrocketed. ‘You mean Twily?’ I ask, dumbfounded. ‘She’s my sister.’

“We were having a pleasant conversation after that, but my friends were calling me back over and she had to get back to her studies. We exchanged names and addresses and decided to meet up for tea the next day. And that would be my very first date with my wife: Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” Cadance chuckled at the revelation of her full name.

“So that’s it?” I ask. “That’s your story?”

“Nope,” says Shining Armor. “It’s only the beginning. And right now, you need your own beginning.”

“So, what I got from your story is that you met a girl, found that you had something in common, and then you go on a date with her? It just doesn’t sound that simple.”

“You’d be surprised,” says Shining Armor. “Love can be very spontaneous. Just do what you think is right; that’s all you can do. Seeing the way you treat us, it shouldn’t be too hard for you.” Shining Armor’s confidence in me is overwhelmingly inspiring.

“Alright,” I say with vigor, “I’ll do it.” We spend the rest of the afternoon and night talking about trivial matters and humorous anecdotes.

The night is in full swing, and I finally got the answer to my question about electricity.

“The higher end towns like Manehattan, Canterlot, and certain parts of Ponyville can afford it,” explained Shining Armor, “but most of the rural towns cannot.”

I walk out of the pool and to the window to look at the clock. It’s already 10 PM.

Time flies.

“Listen,” I call to my friends, “I need to get to bed; I need to be up bright and early to manage the shop before I open it.”

“Alright,” responds Cadance. “Good night.”

“Also,” I call back, “once you’re done, I’d suggest taking a shower. The cleaning chemicals in the water can make your skin really dry. If I don’t see you tomorrow before I leave, I’ll see you later.”

“Okay,” says Shining Armor. “Good night Ian.”

I hop into the shower to rinse the chemicals off of my own body. The warm water feels just as soothing as the water in the Jacuzzi and I want to stay there with my friends some more, but responsibility calls and I have to be at work.

I dry myself off with the towel and walk back to my room. Before I walk upstairs, I look at Cadance and Shining Armor through the living room window. They’re swimming around and (pardon the pun) horse-playing around, splashing water on them. Their happiness together is one that couldn’t be faked, unlike the one my mom had with my dad.

No, I’m not going back to that.

I walk up the stairs and slip into some pajamas and crawl into my bed. Today has been an eventful (and to an extent) stressful day. However, with my two new friends by my side, I’m ready to greet the day with open arms.
________________________________________________________________________________________

My alarm rings at 6 AM. I almost immediately shut it off so as not to disturb my guests. I gather my usual polo/slacks uniform for the shop along with some underwear and socks and take them down to the shower, this time lathering my body and hair with soap and shampoo so I can present myself to my customers. Today is a Friday, so the store closes at 9 instead of the usual 10.

Also, Friday is the busiest day of the week, so I’m going to have to be on the lookout for that one girl. After drying off and shaving, I put my clothes on and make my way to the kitchen. I prepare a bagel with cream cheese and eat it. As I have my breakfast, I write a note for Shining Armor and Cadance. It says:

Dear Shining Armor and Cadance,

I am at work now and won’t be back until around 9:30 at night or possibly later. There is plenty of leftover peppers, tortillas, and salsa to make more fajitas. If not, I also have cucumbers and cheese to make sandwiches with. Anyways, I’m off now. Please be careful around the house.

From,
Ian.

P.S.: If the phone rings or the someone other than me is at the door, do not answer it. In fact, hide. Not every human will be eager to meet you.

P.P.S.: Sorry if I frightened you at all.

After all the time I spent with them, I couldn’t believe that I forgot to discuss the possibility of visitors with them. Hopefully, the note will suffice for now, and I can explain later. I quietly pin the note to the inside of the door to the room where Cadance and Armor are sleeping. With that done, I grab my keys and go to work.

The sunrise was beautiful on my drive down the hill into town. It was even more beautiful as I played Octivarium on my iPod as I drove. As usual, the song ends around the same time as I get to my usual parking spot behind my shop. Once I exit my car and get to the building, I open the back door and turn on the lights. I do an inventory of the shop and see that everything is in order since I left it yesterday.

It’s around 7:00 now, and the store doesn’t open for another two hours. I decide to practice on some of the instruments in the store for fun. I put my iPod on speaker and play along on the various instruments. It’s a great way to kill two hours.
At around quarter to 9, I make my final checks to make sure the store is in order. I see a small mass of people gathered outside the shop waiting to be let in. Friday really is my busiest day, and with Summer vaction in full swing, people have a lot of free time. Eventually, the clock rings 9 and I let people inside.

I see people immediately going through my CD collection, picking up guitars, people playing drums, and looking at the display case for various accessories. One thing that always irks me about letting people play the drums is that there’s hardly a good person who plays them. It’s as if that what they played on on hard difficulty in Rock Band was enough to suffice for great drumming prowess. It really brightens my day when I see skilled drummers sit on that stool and really rock out a tune, and today was no exception. At least half of the people who went on the drums really knew how to work them. I’m lucky if three people can play them on any given day.

By around mid-afternoon, the store begins to quiet down, there only being a few customers in the store. I was finishing ringing up a woman who was buying her son a new guitar, and then, she showed up.

Come on, Ian. Don’t blow this this time.

After I’m done ringing up the mother, I walk to the girl who, as usual, is observing the bass guitars.

“Hey,” I greet, leaning on the wall. She turns around and finds me right there, surprising her.

“Hello,” she says, uncharacteristically personal to boot. “Aren’t you supposed to be working the store?”

“Who says that I’m not?”

“Hm. What do you want anyways? I’m not taking your 11 dollars back if that’s what you’re asking.”

“No, nothing like that. I just wanted to ask how your strings are working.”

“About that, my dad used to be the one who changed the strings on that instrument, but I don’t live with him anymore, and I don’t know how to do it so-”

“You wanted to ask me if I could change the strings for you?”

“…Yeah.” She blushes in slight shame.

“Don’t worry,” I say in an attempt to lighten her embarrassment, “not too many people know how to change strings. Why don’t you bring your bass over tonight and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Yeah, I’m kind-of busy for the rest of the day.”

“How about tomorrow at 8 in the morning?”

“But don’t you open up at 9?”

“It can get busy on a Saturday morning. Plus, I don’t mind making an exception.” On instinct, I wink at her.

Oh Christ, did I really just do that?

I do my best to keep my composure in light of my action, but she either didn’t seem to care or she actually enjoyed it, her slight smile as evidence.

“Okay then,” she giggles, “I’ll see you tomorrow at 8.” With that, she leaves the store.

Did I do that right?

Minutes turn to hours as it’s already ten to 9. I make my “last call” announcement, signaling that if a customer wants to buy something, they must come to the register immediately to make their final purchases. The only customer however, is an older gentleman who bought a pack of guitar picks and a Megadeth Rust in Peace tabs book. I ring up his purchase and I watch as he leaves the store. I’m usually generous with the time and will sometimes let customers look inside when closing time is only a minute away. No such thing happens though, so I’m safe to close the store as normal.

On my way home, I can’t wait to tell Shining Armor and Cadance about the progress I did (or maybe didn’t) make.

Come on, don’t think like that.

I enter the house and call my friends names to tell them that it was only me. I hear no answer. I begin to look around the house, hoping that they didn’t run off or something bad happened to them. I look out the living room window and take a sigh of relief to see the steam rising where the Jacuzzi was.

I walk outside to see Cadance and Shining Armor sitting in the Jacuzzi having a grand old time.

“Ian!” calls Shining Armor. “How’d it go, buddy?”

I wave to them and take a seat on the chair near the Jacuzzi.

“Was she there?” asked Cadance, giddy with anticipation.

“Yeah, she was there.”

“And?” they both chime in tandem.

“She wants me to change her bass strings tomorrow morning at 8.”

I could tell by the looks of their faces that it wasn’t the most exciting answer that they could have heard, but they’re still optimistic.

“That’s good,” reassures Shining Armor with a nod, “that’s still good.”

“Listen,” I say, “I know you were expecting sparks to fly immediately, but give me a break, Romeo and Juliet. I’m new at this.”

“Oh,” exclaimed Cadance, “don’t think we’re trying to rush you. As a pony who specializes in love, I know that certain relationships take longer to develop than others.”

“What should I do tomorrow?” I ask. Armor laughs a little.

“Remember what I told you, pal.”

“Something of interest, right?”

“Yeah, but if you can, tell her how beautiful she is.”

“Well,” I admit, “she’s not that beautiful.” Shining Armor and Cadance look at me like I’m sort of madman for saying such a thing about someone. “Wait, wait, wait! I meant that she’s not drop dead gorgeous, that’s all. She really is very pretty, but I find that it’s her bass playing that captivates me.” Shining Armor and Cadance sigh in relief.

“Well there you go!” cheers Shining Armor. “Something of interest.”

I can’t talk about this much longer. The more I dwell on it, the more apprehensive I’m going to get. I stand up and explain my whereabouts.

“I’m going to bed; another early day at work tomorrow.”

“Alright,” said Cadance. “Good night!”

After changing into my pajamas in my room, I find it difficult to sleep, wondering what will transpire tomorrow.
________________________________________________________________________________________

I wake up the same time around 6, shower, dress, eat breakfast, and leave the same note for Armor and Cadance. With that, I grab my keys and go.

As always when I enter my store, I check inventory and play around on the instruments. My playtime is cut short when I hear a light banging on the window. To my surprise, the girl is waving to me with one hand while her other hand is holding the case to her instrument. Seeing as there would be no point in keeping her out, I unlock the door and let her in.

“What are you doing here so early?” I ask her.

“I have to walk here from my apartment. Also, it’s part of my philosophy: ‘Plan on showing up early, and you’ll make it on time. Plan on showing up on time, and you’ll be late.'”

“What does that mean?”

“You know. What if there was a problem on my way here and I needed to make a detour that would add 10 minutes to my commute? Now I’m showing up on time when I left earlier than needed.”

Interesting philosophy.

“Anyways,” she remembers, “the strings.”

“Right.”

She lays the case on the table and unzips it to reveal her instrument, the Rickenbacker Model 4004L Laredo. Even with the broken string, it’s still a wonderful looking bass.

“So,” I begin. “Do you want me to replace just the broken string?”

“No, I’d like you to change them all.”

“Alright.”

I lay the bass out and begin to unwind the tuning heads. As I work, I begin to talk to her.

“So what kind of music to you like to play?”

“Lot of metal. Specifically Iron Maiden, Metallica, all of those 80’s metal bands. The real kind of 80’s metal anyway.” Knowing that she’s referring to glam metal there, I laugh. The E string is out.

“Favorite songs or albums?” I continue questioning.

“To play or to listen?” The A string is out.

“Either.”

“I love any Metallica song featuring Cliff Burton, playing anything by Slayer or Anthrax can be fun, but nothing can beat Steve Harris’ bass playing hands down.” The D string is out. “What about you?”

“I’m more into the prog stuff. Pink Floyd, Yes, ELP, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.”

“Classics, huh?”

“I actually enjoy a wide variety of music. In fact, Number of the Beast is one of my favorite albums of all time.”

The G string is out.

“Is it?” She giggles a little. “Don’t worry. I’m not one of “those” metalheads. I highly enjoy Greg Lake and Roger Waters too.”

I guess we do have more in common than we thought.

“Did you bring the strings?” I ask. She hands me them. I rip the bag open, sort the strings out, and begin to place them in.
“So,” I continue, “who taught you how to play bass?”

“My dad. He used to play bass in a band in his high school years and he taught me all he knew.” The G string is replaced. “And you?”

“Same. In fact, I had to learn all of these instruments before I began to manage the store.”

“That must have been a pain.” The D string is replaced.

“More or less. It was all just a matter of learning notes and getting your fingers moving in different ways. Other than that, it was pretty simple.” The A string is replaced.

“I’m guessing you also had to learn to change guitar strings too.”

“Oh yeah. You really can’t be the only employee of a guitar shop and not know how to change a string.”

“Right, right,” she agrees. The E string is replaced. I begin tuning each string by ear. The E string is in tune.

“Did you tune that by ear?” she questions. “You have perfect pitch?”

“Guilty,” I chime. The A string is in tune.

“I’m so jealous. That must make things so much easier.”

“In all honesty, it does,” I admit. The D string is in tune. “Would you like me to teach you sometime?”

“You can teach people how to have perfect pitch?” The G string is tuned. Her bass is now ready.

“Sure thing. Just another thing my dad taught me. Anyways, your guitar is done.”

“Thank you, thank you so much!” she practically squeals. She begins to place her bass in her case.

Now is the moment of truth. No turning back.

“Hey, are you doing anything tomorrow?” I ask her.

“Tomorrow? Why?”

“It’s just that… I really enjoyed your company today and yesterday and…” She suddenly catches on.

“Are you asking me on a date?”

“Yes,” I quickly confirm. “The store is closed on Sunday, after all. Do you like movies?”

“Love them.”

“How about tomorrow afternoon, I take you out to dinner and we catch that Prometheus movie that came out?”

“Awesome. Where did you want to eat?”

“Wherever you like.”

“I like Italian food.”

“Does Maggiano’s work?”

“Sounds great.” She then walks up to me. “Do you really find me attractive enough to go on a date?” I’m letting my emotions get the best of me. I decide to be honest with her.

“Looks have nothing to do with it. You seem like a very nice and talented girl whom I’d like to get to know. And, on a side note, you do look very pretty.” She blushes. She then goes near my cash register and writes something on a piece of paper. When she finishes, she goes back over and extends her hand to mine with the paper stuck in her palm.

“Penny Lewis,” she says. I accept her handshake.

“Ian Carlington.”

“I’ll see you around,” said Penny. With that, she leaves the shop with bass in tow and a large smile on her face.

I unravel the piece of paper in my hand and look at it. All that she wrote was her name, her address, and those ten familiar digits.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

11 hours of work later, I arrive home. Shining Armor and Cadance are in the kitchen having a snack when they notice me walking in while beaming. Shining Armor and Cadance can see where this is going.

“And?” they both ask.

“I’m taking her out tomorrow for dinner and a movie. Her name is Penny.”

Shining Armor and Cadance squeal with joy and hug me, while jumping up and down.

“I’m so proud of you!” shouts Cadance. “Lets celebrate in the Jacuzzi!”

After a long day at work with a relatively stressless one tomorrow, a dip in the hot tub sounds absolutely splendid.

Chapter 5: Dinner and a Movie

The next morning, I dial the numbers to Penny’s cell on my phone. I wait for her voice.

“Hello?"

“Penny? It’s me, Ian.”

“Oh yeah. Hi!”

“I just looked on Fandango, and there’s a 8:30 showing for Prometheus at IMAX.”

“IMAX? Doesn’t that seem a little pricey? Are there other cheaper showings?”

“Meh, not if you want a late dinner. Plus, I was really looking forward to seeing it in IMAX, and if you wanted to too, I wouldn’t mind.”

“…Okay. What about dinner?”

“Reservations at 5:30 sound fair?”

“Alright.”

“I’ll pick you up at 5, okay?”

“Sounds great, Ian. I’ll see you then. Bye.”

“Byebye.” *click*

Shining Armor was standing over me the whole time. Needless to say, they were very proud and excited for me.

“You’re doing great,” says Shining Armor, rubbing my back with his hooves.

“So what should I do then?”

“Don’t dwell on it. Just try and have a nice conversation with her and everything will go smoothly."

“How did it go for you? Your first date with Cadance that is.”

“It went well. We met at a café for tea. Oh Ian, you should have seen her. She looked gorgeous.”

“I bet she was,” I agree.

“Anyways, I showed up a little late, as I had an exam I needed to finish that I got a little behind on. When she saw me approaching, the light in her eyes sparkled brighter than the biggest firework. She was really happy to see me, and I was happy to see her. I began our conversation with an apology for the ball incident and we just went from there.”

“You really like to paraphrase your stories, don’t you?”

“I don’t understand. That’s just what happened. I mean we had some fun with each other the next few days, but other than that, there’s not much to tell.”

“It’s just that I want to do this right.”

“You will, Ian. You just have to believe in yourself. Trust your instincts, and you’ll go far.” Still, Shining’s confidence in me is overpowering.

“Thanks man,” I say.
________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s now 3:30, and I want to leave in a half an hour to go to the bank and get some cash for tonight. Shining Armor and Cadance want to use this time to make me look presentable. I have already shaven and bathed, but they want to help me out even further. I tell them that I don’t want anything too fancy, as it’s only a dinner and a movie date, so Shining Armor suggests a pair of khaki pants with a grey shirt and a black vest. I tell him that this is just fine, to his delight.

Cadance helps with putting the right cologne and styling my hair. After applying the right cologne, she uses her magic to take a small gob of hair gel and lather it into my hair, styling it into a short faux-hawk. After showing me the mirror, I gasp at how well of a job they did.

It’s now five to 4. I check that I have everything: wallet, phone, keys, watch. I’m good. I just have to make one stop and I should be able to go to Penny’s house. Before I exit my door, I look at Shining Armor and Cadance.

“Good luck!” they both call. I then walk over and give them both a hug wrapping an arm around their necks.

“Thank you both so much for all you’ve done,” I say.

“Don’t worry about it,” says Shining Armor. “Now knock her dead.”

I chuckle a little and leave my friends inside the house to get to my car.

After a twenty minute drive to the bank where I get some cash, I pull out the MapQuest map with Penny’s address on it. It’s 4:50 when I finally arrive at the apartment. I get out of my car and walk up to her room. I knock on the door, and it isn’t long until I see a woman standing in front of me. She’s wearing a buttoned up blue flannel shirt with black jeans and black Converse shoes, her hair in her usual ponytail.

“You’re early,” she says to me with a seductive smile.

“You know what they say,” they mutter. “Plan on showing up early…”

She giggled and pawed at my chest.

“Come on,” she said. “I’m starving.”

“You and me both.”

I escort her to my car, open the door for her like a gentleman, to which she makes a joke about being a valet based on my choice of clothes (my vest), and we head to Maggiano’s.

Despite it being a Sunday afternoon, we are lucky enough to pull into one of the closest parking spaces after a family of four backs out of their spot.

“This is going to be a good night,” I say pulling in.

As we walk into the restaurant, I go to the maître d and ask if our reservations are ready. He tells us that we’re early, but they have tables available. I thank him as he sits us in a booth across from each other. Now the night can begin.

“What are you going to get?” asks Penny.

I know Cadance told me not to eat meat in her presence, but I feel that not eating meat at all would be an even kinder gesture. I mean, she did help get me a girlfriend.

“I love the eggplant parmesan here.”

“So you’re planning on the 'pick-two' special?”

“Sure, along with some spaghetti marinera , that sounds nice.”

Before Penny can tell me what she wants, our water comes and orders our drinks. Being the designated driver, I order a ginger ale, while Penny orders a glass of red wine.

“So anyways,” I resume, “what are you getting?”

“I love the ziti, so I’ll get that, and take home some spaghetti and meatballs. By the way, none of the items you wanted has meat in it. Are you a vegetarian?”

“No,” I respond, “I’m just trying something over the Summer.”

“Weight loss or something?”

“Yeah. That doesn’t bother you does it?”

“Certainly not. You just didn’t strike me as the vegetarian type.”

“What’s wrong with vegetarians? I mean look at the members of Between the Buried and Me.”

“Oh my God, I love that band!”

Now the conversation’s rolling.

“I mean,” she continues, “they’re one of the few metal bands from the twenty-first century that I can take seriously. Nowadays, it’s nothing but people screaming into the microphone and the “riff” is a single note strummed really fast.”

The waiter comes with our drinks. She asks us if we know what we want to order. Penny and I both tell her what we discussed earlier with side caesars. I also ask the waitress to get some bread when she has the chance. Penny observes my ginger ale.

“You said you ordered a ginger ale, right?”

“Yeah?”

“I think I’ll get one of those soon.”

“What about your wine?”

“Please, I don’t want to be blind-stinking drunk for the movie.”

“Right, right. So, have you seen Alien or it’s various sequels?”

“Yep. I have a special Two-Disc Special Edition DVD at my house.”

“I’m guessing it’s one of your favorites?”

“Mmhm. Tell me. What kind of movies do you like?”

“You know. The classics.” She giggles at the in-joke.

“Such as?”

“Big Fan of Kubrick and Scorsese. But if I had to pick a favorite movie, it’d have to be Magnolia.”

“Magnolia? Didn’t that just come out?”

“No, but compared to my taste in movies, it’s just that it’s a relatively new release. It’s 1999.”

The waitress comes out with a basket of bread, which leads me to pour a tableside bottle of oil onto Penny’s and then my plate. I ask her if she wants cheese, to which she says no, so I sprinkle cheese on my plate.

“Are you sure you don’t want any cheese? “ I ask.

“Yes, it’s fine,” she tells me.

“It’s just, if you want any cheese, it’s right… I mean, I don’t mind sharing, I-”

“Ian.”

“Yes?”

“Please. You don’t need to be a gentleman around me. I really like you, so don’t try too hard. If I want some cheese, I’ll gladly ask you to pass it to me. Deal?”

“Deal,” I say with a smile. She seems like a very self-managed woman, unlike my mother. I think that we are going to get along great. After 10 minutes of pleasant conversation, our salads finally arrive.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Our pleasant meal is over and we head over to the movie theater. Upon reaching the box office, I tell the cashier to get two tickets for Prometheus in IMAX. She tells me that it will be twenty-nine dollars.

Jeez, I forgot how expensive movie tickets have gotten.

Before I can pull my wallet out, Penny reaches into hers and hands her an ID with her picture on it. With a twenty dollar bill. The cashier says the new total will be twenty dollars, just enough to cover the tickets. Two pieces of paper are printed and are handed to Penny.

“Enjoy your show,” says the cashier.

“Thanks,” I mutter back.

As we walk to the concessions booth, I stop Penny.

“Penny, you didn’t need to buy my tickets. And how did you get that discount anyways?”

“I work here,” says Penny. “And before we continue this any further. I want to let you know that I’m not one of ‘those’ girls. I don’t mind paying my own way when doing things. I appreciate you buying dinner for me, so let me buy you the movie and popcorn. I honestly don’t mind.”

“Okay,” I sigh. “It’s just I don’t want to look like one of ‘those’ boyfriends.”

“Ian,” she giggles, “you are quite easily one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met. You don’t have to worry about being one of ‘those’ boyfriends. In fact, when we do this next week, I’ll buy dinner, and you buy the movie. Fair?”

When? She wants to do this next week?

“Fair!” I exclaim. “Let’s go then.”

We get our popcorn and soda and make our way to the theater.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Upon leaving the theater, we are discussing the movie.

“It was okay,” I said. “It didn’t have the best script or characters, but the visuals were awesome.”

Penny was less than amused.

“I can’t believe the creator of his own craft screwed up that badly.”

“You didn’t like it?”

“Not so much ‘didn’t like it’ as ‘incredibly disappointed by it.’ That Abraham Lincoln vampire movie looks pretty good, doesn’t it?”

Interesting change of subject.

“Oh, I know! I read the book twice.”

We get into the car to drive Penny home.

“Tell me,” says Penny, “was the book anything like what you saw in the trailer?”

“No, no, and no,” I laugh. “The book is more of a historical fiction piece while this movie is set up to look like a mindless action film.”

“There’s nothing wrong with mindless action though.”

“I agree.”

Penny is wiped from popcorn and Cherry Coke, and she leans her head on my shoulder as I drive. I decide to be quiet for the rest of the night, despite my wanting to continue talking to her.

I finally get to her apartment. I gently nudge her awake.

“We’re home,” I whisper.

Penny unbuckles her seatbelt and walks to the door with her leftovers from dinner, me following her.

“Did you want something to eat or drink?” she asked.

Should I decline? Knowing her thus far, it would seem disrespectful to.

“What do you have?”

“I have some oreos and milk.”

“That sounds really good.”

As I walk into her apartment, I can see that it’s not in the best of shape. The carpet is in dire need of vacuuming, and with all the junk on the table and counters, it looks like placing anything anywhere is next to impossible.

“Sorry,” says Penny. “I can get a bit messy.”

She pours me a glass of milk and sets a stack of five oreos. I happily take them to the couch and cluttered table. I dunk the first cookie into the milk and hold it in until the bubbles stop.

“What are you doing?” she amusedly asks.

“This is how I eat oreos. I hold them in the milk and soak them until they get all nice and chewy.” I take the oreo from the glass and eat it. Sure enough, there is no crunch to the bite. I then smile at her with my teeth caked with cookie. She laughs and pushes me on the couch. That’s when I remembered something.

“Shh,” I hushed, “what about your dad?”

“My dad? What about him?”

“Won’t we wake him if we’re too loud?”

“Oh no. My dad’s not here.”

“Where is he?”

“…Away.”

“On business or something?”

“Yeah, something like that. In fact, my dad is good friends with our landlord, so our rent is really cheap.”

“Oh, that’s nice.” I then notice her bass guitar on a stand.

“Your guitar looks good.”

“Well,” she chuckled. “You helped.”

“Would you mind playing something for me on it?”

“You… want me to play… for you?”

“Nothing would make me happier?”

Too much of a compliment?

It doesn’t seem to be. She immediately puts the guitar’s strap on her and begins playing Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden. I’m transfixed on her wonderful playing. The look of determination on her face and speed of her fingers really make her a sight to behold.

After her little concert, I tell her that it’s getting late and that I need to get to work tomorrow. I even ask her if she wants to come early as always to hang out. I even tell her I’d a have a surprise for her. She agrees.

“Bye, Ian. Thank you for tonight.” Before she closes the door, she pecks me on the lips. I stand at her door, shocked by her action. I then leave the apartment with the biggest smile on my face that doesn’t leave me until I get home.

Upon entering my house, I know that it’s late and Shining Armor and Cadance are asleep. Instead, I find them in the living room, awake and anticipated.

“So, how did it go?” asked Shining Armor.”

“Wonderfully,” I blissfully sigh. I then give Shining Armor and Cadance a very big hug. “Thank you for all that you’ve done for me. You are without a doubt my best friends.” Cadance and Shining Armor are touched to hear that. I had no idea that they could be so emotional, as I feel teardrops on my back.

“Thank you for that,” says Cadance. “Do you have work tomorrow?”

“Yes, I do. Good night and, again, thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure, Ian. Goodnight.”

After putting my leftovers in the fridge, I prance up the stairs and dive into bed. It isn’t long before I fall asleep, happily basking in the memories of my date with Penny Lewis.

Chapter 6: Gimme Shelter

Leaving Shining Armor and Cadance to sleep again, I get ready and leave for work. I expect Penny to be waiting for me like we discussed. As usual, I get to my store around twenty after 7. Usually, I would walk straight up to the door and unlock it, waiting for 9 to chime so I can officially open the store. Instead, I go to my trunk and take out a case. With my free hand, I pull my keys out of my pocket and unlock the door.

Upon entering the store through the back, I see none other than Penny standing at the window to catch my attention. I put down my case and flip through my keys to find the front door key as I walk over. She prances in as I open the door.

“Hey,” I greet.

“Hi,” she responds. “So what’s this big surprise you had?” I walk over to the case on the floor, Penny following me, and I open it. I show her my dad’s Chapman stick. “Oh my God!” she exclaims. “Is that a real Chapman stick?”

“Yes,” I say. “It was my dad’s favorite instrument.”

“Can I try it out?”

“Of course, just be careful with it.”

She wastes no time in taking the instrument out of the case with care and strapping it on and plugging it in. Being a bassist, she primarily plays on the lower two strings, doing an improvised jam. Either way, she’s good.

“Whoa,” I exclaim, “you’re like a female Tony Levin.”

She looks like she’s having so much fun on the instrument. In fact, I can honestly say that there wasn’t a single person who was happier playing that instrument than my dad. She’s even almost as natural. She finishes the jam, to a light applause from me.

“You really knew how to work that thing,” I say, putting the instrument back.

“Me and my dad went to a King Crimson show one time, and we had a chance run-in with Tony Levin, and we both got to jam on his Chapman stick.”

“You… got to jam… with Tony Levin?”

“Well, yeah.”

She makes it sound like nothing special.

“Jeez, and you’re jealous of me that I have perfect pitch?”

“No, I still am. Plus, you said you can teach me.”

“Oh right.”

“So, what’s your secret?”

“Well, like I said, it’s quite simple. You know how to read music right?”

“Mmhm.”

“Well this is kind of like seeing the music in your head. For example, you know the Iron Maiden song Rime of the Ancient Mariner right?”

She gives me a look that says, “Duh, I’m not an idiot.”

“Anyways, you know the bass part after that slow section?”

“Yeah.”

“What note do you start off on?”

“F#.”

“Can you play an F#.”

She answers me by playing the high F# on the G string of a bass on the display wall.

“Did you know that it would sound like that when you played it?”

“Of course.”

“Just remember that pitch… you got it?”

“Mmhm.”

“Now hum it.” She does so right on key. “And that’s all there is to it.”

“Wait, that was it?”

“You sang an F# right on key. You did it.”

“That was… incredibly easy.”

“See if you can try it on the other notes.”

She’s a quick learner. She does the simpler things, like humming what the pitches of the open E, A, D, and G strings would sound like and then plays them, getting giddy every time she hits a note right. She continues practicing this until it’s time to open the shop.

“I guess I better get going,” she says.

“Come back tomorrow,” I say, “and I can teach you how to change your own strings.”

She makes a short gasp, obviously touched by my offer.

“Sounds great,” she said.

With that she leaves the store.
________________________________________________________________________________________

I return home that night to Shining Armor and Cadance greeting me as always. While I don’t get to see them very often, their greeting me back home every night always lifts my spirits. I’ve grown so accustomed to them now that I even give them a hug like they’re my family members.

Being an only son, with too distant of relatives, these two otherworldly ponies are basically the only family I have nearby. However, despite my wanting to stay up with them, they and I both know that I have to work the following day. Tonight, I decide to pop the question.

“Cadance? Armor? Do you two ever get… lonely by yourselves?”

“What? No,” responds Shining Armor. His voice sounds oddly reminiscent of the way Mark Wahlberg said it in The Happening, leading me to believe that he is lying.

“It’s just, you two are cooped up in this house all day, and there’s really nothing to do except maybe the Jacuzzi, but it just seems that you two are dying for something more.”

“What did you have in mind?” asks Cadance.

“Guys, if I asked you if you would object to meeting Penny if I were ever in a situation to bring her here, would you?”

“What? Of course not,” replies Shining Armor, sounding much more genuine.

“The way you talk about her,” says Cadance, “she sounds like a really sweet girl. I’d love to meet her.”

I give a reassuring smile, more for myself than to my guests. Then, like clockwork, the telephone rings. I pick it up. It’s Penny. I can hear her breathing heavily, like she’s been crying or is really frustrated. Maybe both.

“Penny? Are you alright?”

“Ian. We need to talk tomorrow. This isn’t something I can really discuss over the phone.”

“Don’t worry. I’m here for you.”

“Please, just help me.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Okay. Bye.”

“Bye.”

*click*

The nervous look on my face brings out the same reactions in Shining Armor and Cadance.

“What happened?” asks Cadance.

“I don’t know,” I answer. “I’ll find out more tomorrow.”

Shining Armor and Cadance still don’t look satisfied.

“I have to get to bed. I’ll try and talk more about it tomorrow.”

“How?” asks Shining Armor.

I guide them to the phone. I write a ten digit number on a sticky note and place it next to the machine.

“You see this number?” I ask. “I will call the house tomorrow with this number appearing on the little screen here. If any number other than this one appears on that screen, don’t answer it, okay?”

“Okay,” agree both Shining Armor and Cadance. We all go to bed to await Penny’s news tomorrow.
________________________________________________________________________________________

I wake up at the usual 6. I decide to leave earlier than normal. If Penny wants to tell me something so urgently, she’ll try to leave as early as possible. I want to be there for her.

I get in my car at twenty to 7 and go, getting to the shop at 7 o’clock sharp.

Plus, if she follows her little philosophy, she’ll probably be here by now.

As predicted, I see her standing at the window. She looks terrible, like she didn’t get any sleep. She has a large rolling suitcase in one hand and her bass in the other.

I let her in, to which she immediately goes to the drum throne and sits down.

“Alright,” I say, “what’s the matter.”

“I’m sorry,” she says. “this will probably sound really inconvenient.”

“Yes?”

“Can I stay with you for a few days?”

“A few days? Why?”

“The plumbing in my apartment is screwed up. I was going to take a shower, and as I’m waiting for the water to come on, this brown, smelly liquid starts pouring out. I thankfully saw this quick enough to turn off the water before I could get fully soaked. I then turned on the sink to both the bathroom and the kitchen, and they’re pouring the same nasty water. I had to wash myself off with a couple of bottles of water that I keep in the fridge. When I went outside to ask my landlord what happened, I saw other people looking for him too, and for the same reason.”

“Yuck.”

“I know. They haven’t found the cause of the problem, but until they could get it fixed, we can’t live in our homes. I grabbed my bass and some other affects and toiletries and now I’m looking for a bed to sleep in tonight.”

“Where did you sleep yesterday?”

“One of my neighbors let me borrow his truck, since he didn’t have any close relatives or friends either.”

“Jesus, really? You could have asked me. I would have taken you in in a New York minute.”

“I didn’t want you to worry about me.”

“Well, you did that in a hurry with your phone call.”

“No, I mean I knew you had to work tomorrow. I mean, I’m an employee at a movie theater who was off today. You own one of the biggest music stores in the town. I think your sleep is a lot more important than mine.”

Her selflessness is very touching.

“So the long and short of it is, you want me to let you live at my house until they fix your apartment.”

“And?”

“Of course you can.” She’s about to smother me with a hug, but I stop her. “On one condition though,” I add.

“What is it? I’ll do anything.”

“Right now, I have a couple of friends visiting over from a different state. Not to say that I don’t have room for you. It’s just, they’re… different.”

“Different how?”

“They can be very self conscious about their looks, and they’re super-vegetarians.”

“You mean like a vegan?"

“No, not like a vegan. They can’t even look at meat without feeling uncomfortable, so if you could refrain from eating meat around them, please do so. And just don’t freak out around them when you first meet them, okay?”

“Alright, fine. It’s probably nothing I couldn’t handle.”

You’ll be surprised.

“First off,” I say, “let’s get your stuff into my car.” I walk with her out the back door and place her stuff in my car. Now she hugs me, so I pat her on the back in consolation.

“Now,” I say, “how about I teach you how to change strings?”
________________________________________________________________________________________

After another hour, she finally has the technique down.

“You make everything seem so easy,” she states.

“You’re a quick learner, what can I say?” She blushes.

“Listen, I’m obviously not doing anything today, and you’re letting me into your home, why don’t I help you around the store?”

“That’s quite alright. I have it covered.”

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind.”

“No please. Enjoy your time off.”

“Suit yourself.” With that, she leaves. I pick up the phone to call Cadance and Shining Armor about my situation.
________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s around noon, and it’s surprisingly busy for a Tuesday. As I’m taking care of some customers at register, I notice Penny walking in with a bag.

“I got you lunch,” she says.

“I can’t right now,” I say, “I’m very busy.”

“Can you tell me about this guitar?” asks a customer.

Before I have the chance to tell her, “In a minute,” Penny is already helping her. I can’t hear their conversation, but as she finishes talking to them, I see the customer take the guitar off the rack and bring it to the register.

“Nicely done,” I compliment.

“What, you didn’t think that after coming into your store after all this time that I wouldn’t know about the stuff in here.”

“Alright,” I relent, “you can help me with the rest of the day. By the way what’s for lunch?”

“I got you a falafel.”

With her help, I might just be able to eat in a half hour.
________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s finally closing time and Penny and I are about ready to go to my house.

“Are you ready to meet your new roomates?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said sarcastically.

We both get in the car after checking to see if Penny’s stuff was still in the trunk, which it was. With that, we make the trip home. I told Shining Armor that I would call them both down when Penny was properly situated. Penny seems incredibly enthusiastic about meeting my friends, but she’s unprepared for what she’s really about to see.

As we walk to the front door after parking the car in the garage, I ask Penny if she’s really ready for this. She gently punches me in the shoulder and tells me to get on with it.

We walk through the front door and I tell Penny to take a seat on my couch. She does so after setting her bags down. The moment of truth arrives.

“Shining Armor? Cadance? She’s here.”

Penny looks at me like I just called out two imaginary friends, as no one would name any human that. Once the equine figures come out of my parents' bedroom, she can officially see why.

Not trying to scare her, Shining Armor and Cadance walk down the stairs slowly, revealing themselves fully for Penny to see, who is completely stunned. Shining Armor and Cadance accept this as a natural reaction.

“I- Ia- I- I- Ian?” she stutters. “Are those things…”

“Real?” I finish. “Yes. As you or I.”

“Hello,” quietly says Shining Armor. Penny immediately cups her hands to her mouth.

“That horse just talked!” she squeaks.

“It’s okay,” I say. “They’re incredibly friendly. And they like to be referred to as ponies.”

Shining Armor makes small steps towards her. Penny remains as calm as she possibly can as the unicorn approaches her. She then outstretches her hand and turns her head away, still unsure how this mythical creature will respond. Shining Armor gets close enough that his muzzle is just inches from her fingertips. He makes a small exhale, the feeling of his breath causing Penny’s fingers to curl up a bit in shock. Once she opens them back up, Shining Armor leans in so Penny’s fingers are lightly placed on Shining Armor’s nose.

Penny turns around to see Shining Armor give her a warm, inviting smile as her hand touches him. She then moves her hand down the side of his face, cheek, and then neck. Penny places her other hand on Armor’s neck and gives him a hug. Shining Armor rubs Penny’s back with his chin. Penny elicits a happy, childlike laugh. She can’t believe that she’s hugging a real life unicorn. Shining Armor begins gently laughing too, making her even more at ease. The two of them befriending each other is absolutely heartwarming.

“Ian, I don’t believe this,” says Penny.

“I told you they were different,” I say with a wink.

“Hello Penny,” says Shining Armor, breaking from the hug to give her a hoof/handshake, “I’m Shining Armor.”

“Hi,” she sighs while shaking his hoof, still surprised by this turn of events. She then walks over to Cadance to introduce herself.

“Princess Cadance,” she says shaking Penny’s hand, “but please call me Cadance.”

“Cadance,” confirms Penny. “What a lovely name.” Cadance blushes, causing the both of them to giggle. “And did you say, Princess?”

“I think it’s time we had some tea,” I state.

The next hour or so is spent explaining Cadance and Shining Armor’s story and homeworld to Penny while drinking tea, all of which she finds interesting. In between topics, Penny asks to feel Shining Armor’s horn and Cadance’s wings, both of which she is rendered breathless by.

“Ian tells me much about you,” said Shining Armor. “From how he described you, I couldn’t wait for the moment when we finally met.”

“He really did make you sound like an absolute gem,” said Cadance, “but after meeting you, I can say that you also look like an absolute gem.” Penny’s face was flushed red the entire night.

“What time is it?” asked Penny.

“Quarter to 11,” I respond.

“Oh my!” cries Penny. “It’s late. We should get to bed. Some of us have to get to work in the morning.” I frowned slightly at her comment, especially since she looked straight at me when she said it.

“But we were having so much fun,” whined Shining Armor.

“I don’t have work tomorrow,” said Penny. “I’ll hang out with you more tomorrow. Deal?”

“Sounds great,” agreed Shining Armor. “Goodnight Ian. Goodnight Penny.”

Cadance calls the same way before they go into my parents’ old room.

“So,” says Penny, looking at me slyly. “I didn’t know Equestria was a state.”

“Alright,” I say. “Let’s get some shut eye.”

“Where should I sleep?”

“You can sleep in my room.”

“What? No. Your room is your room. I can take the sofa.”

“Oh no you don’t! You are a guest in my house, and as my guest, I will not allow you to sleep on the furniture. Now please, grab your luggage and go to your new room.”

Penny looks down slightly. Then, she hugs me and gives me a kiss on the lips.

“Thank you so much for this,” said Penny.

“It’s my pleasure,” I say. She then carries her bag to my room to, presumably, change into pajamas and get dressed.

I go downstairs to the basement and grab a guitar stand from the closet, placing Penny’s bass on it. I then grab a blanket from the linen closet and head back to the living room sofa, placing my head on a pillow and drifting off to sleep.

Chapter 7: All Secrets Known

A.N.: This chapter is told from the point of view of Penny.
________________________________________________________________________________________

It feels strange to wake up in a bed that isn’t your own, especially when the owner’s alarm clock is going off. I assume that it’s Ian’s clock to get up for work, so I go downstairs and find him on the couch. I still feel terrible for doing something like that. After all, I’m the one inconveniencing him by staying in his house; it should have only been fair to let him have his own bed.

“Ian,” I whisper, prodding him with my hand.

“What? What are you doing up?

“Your alarm,” I giggle, “that’s what.”

“My ala- Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t sweat it. I never get much sleep anyways. I just figured that you need to get to work.”

“Right.” With that, he gets up and makes his way towards his room, presumably to get his clothes for work. He walks out with a short stack of clothes: a polo, khakis, underwear, and socks. He then goes into the shower. I go to the kitchen and eat an apple. Having spent most of my time in this house in the living room with Ian, Shining Armor, and Cadance last night, I opt to take a look around the house.

“Ian,” I call through the door, quietly enough that I also don’t wake Shining Armor and Cadance, “can I take a look around your house?”

“Go right ahead,” he says. “Mi casa es zu casa.”

I start with the back deck. I see the nice table and chairs setup with the grill. On the other side, what I see makes me gasp a little.

He has a hot tub? It’s a good thing I packed my swimsuit.

In all honesty, I was going to use it for sunbathing. Sometimes, on my days off, I like to grab a beach blanket and sit out in the sun. I find it very therapeutic.

I then look in his basement. This makes me gasp even harder. He has 10 different guitars, a drumset, a keyboard, and his dad’s Chapman.

Pinch me; I must be in Heaven.

I then look at his TV and Blu-Ray player, scanning his collection of movies. There are several movies that I’ve seen, some that I haven’t seen but have interest in, and there are many movies that turn me off altogether.

I then go upstairs to see Ian eating his breakfast: a plate of microwaved scrambled eggs and toast.

“Hey Ian,” I say, “you wouldn’t mind if I borrowed your hot tub would you?”

“Of course not,” he says. “You’re welcome to anything in the house.”

“How much longer until work?”

“I’m leaving any minute now actually.”

“Really? How come?”

“I’m going to open and close the store early today so I can do a little grocery shopping.”

“Alright. Could you by chance pick me up a frozen French bread pizza?”

“As long as it’s cheese, you know.” He then tilts his head in the general direction of where Shining Armor and Cadance’s room is.

“That’s fine. Anyways, have a good day. I’m going to see if I can get some more sleep.”

“Alright, you do that.” After finishing his plate and putting it in the dishwasher, he grabs his keys and then leaves.

I then go back up to Ian’s room to sleep just a bit more. It’s only after an hour of tossing and turning that I decide that I can’t fall back asleep, so I decide to go downstairs to my bass and practice.

Upon passing Cadance and Shining Armor’s room, I hear something coming from the room. I put my ear to the door, and it sounds like sobbing. I don’t want to knock on the door in fear of waking Cadance and Shining Armor, so I quietly open the door a creek. Upon peeking through I see Shining Armor hugging his wife as she cries. There are wet streaks on his face too.

Unfortunately, Shining Armor spots me. He then pushes me back with his magic, which caught me off guard, and then used another spell to close the door.

“Shining Armor,” I call. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” he says back. “Just leave us alone.”

“Let me help you.”

“That’s just it. You can’t help us.”

How can I not help? …Oh, I see.

“You miss your family and friends, don’t you?”

Silence.

“Can I talk about it with you?”

After another bit of silence, Shining Armor uses his magic to open the door.

I don’t think I’m going to get used to that.

I walk to the bed. I know that this is something that ails them both, so I want to be by both of their sides, literally and figuratively.

“Do you mind if I get in between you two?”

Shining Armor and Cadance make a space in the middle of the bed for me to sit.

“I’m sorry,” said Cadance, more tears streaming. “We must look really foolish right now.”

Feeling sorry for her, I put my hands on her cheeks and wipe her tears with my thumbs. She seems pleased by my gesture, but she still looks very sad.

“You should never feel foolish for missing your home and family,” I respond.

“It’s just that I didn’t want you to worry about us. In fact, we’ve cried like this on several occasions in this house, but we only do it when Ian’s not around because we don’t want him to worry about us anymore.” My words may get across to her, but I figure another gesture will help them sink in. I reach over to Cadance and give her a warm hug, gently rubbing up and down her neck.

“Cadance, Ian’s your friend. I’m your friend. There’s no worse feeling than a friend not being able to help a friend when they’re hurting.” I give Shining Armor a similar hug to ensure that I’m addressing them both. “If you miss your family, I will not judge you. If you want to cry, I will be a shoulder that you can cry upon. If you have something to say, you should never feel scared telling it to us. If Ian was your friend, which I’m sure he is, he will be there for you just like I am now.”

As I hug the crying Shining Armor, Cadance hugs me from behind and also cries. Their emotions being poured onto me causes me to cry too, not even so much for their loss, but a loss that I have had as well that was coming back to me. Cadance turns me around to see my own tears flowing down my face. She uses her hoof to wipe my tears.

“I want to tell you something,” I say, “that I’ve not even told Ian about.”

“What is it?” asked Shining Armor.

“I can understand exactly how you feel, losing your family. I’ve told Ian that my dad was away on business. The truth is, my dad has been dead for over 2 years.”

Shining Armor and Cadance gasp slightly at my revelation.

“It’s true,” I continue. “I can still remember the date. February 17, 2010. My dad was flying to New York for a business trip. His trip was going smoothly until a turbine in the wing flamed out. The pilots tried to make an emergency landing, but they realized they were too late when the turbine exploded, completely blowing the wing clean off.

“I was home that day sick with a fever when I got the phone call: the last conversation I would ever have with my dad. I can remember it all. The people screaming in the background, the sound of the plane as it plummeted towards the earth, but most of all, each single word that he said:

“Penny? Baby?”

“Dad? What’s wrong?”

“I’m not coming home. I just wanted to tell you that I love you.”

“What happened? Why is everyone screaming?”

“The wing exploded. We’re coming down hard. I don’t have much longer, so I just wanted to tell you that I love you so very much.”

The closer I get to the point of his demise, the harder it become for me to retain my composure.

“I love you too dad.”

“Just remember to live your life to the fullest, just like I taught you, because you only get one.”

“I will dad.”

“Oh, Penny. I’m so proud o-”

Dial tone.

“There wasn’t a single survivor of that crash. Ever since that time I’ve been on my own. I had no other family and friends to rely on. My mother died in childbirth and I had no distant relatives to live with. I even had to quit school in order to continue paying for the apartment, which is why I still work at the movie theater in town.”

Shining Armor and Cadance were visibly haunted by my story.

“I was able to use my dad’s life insurance money to pay off the student loans that I did have, but I still needed money for the apartment. I also told Ian that my dad is good friends with my landlord so I get a discount off of my rent. That’s only half true. My dad was good friends with the landlord, but when he heard of my dad’s death, he let me continue living there with a lower rent as a ‘gift’, per say, to my dad.”

“Why are you telling us this?” asked Cadance. “And why haven’t you told Ian?”

“I haven’t told Ian because I never had the right moment to talk to him about it. But the reason I’m telling you is because I want you to know that you’re not alone here. Ian’s in the same boat as us. I remember Ian’s dad appearing in the obituaries, and I’m sure that Ian misses his dad very much, like how I miss my dad very much, and how very much you two miss your family. But I also want you to know that shouldn’t stop you.”

“Stop me?” asked Cadance.

“My dad was quite possibly one of the most positive men I’ve ever met. Every day, he’d meet every challenge and obstacle that was laid out before him with a hearty laugh. He never let anything bring him down, and I absolutely loved that about him. Especially after his death, his morale only rings truer in me. He would hate to see me spend my days mourning his death, so I made a promise to him and myself that I would spend however many days I had on this Earth living as he did: with vigor and hope.”

Suddenly, a small smile appeared on both Cadance’s and Shining Armor’s faces.

“I know that you miss your family, and they certainly miss you, if not, trying every way they can to find you. But while you’re here, alive and well, why not have a little fun?”

Shining Armor and Cadance hug me again, beaming in the process. I wrap my arm around each of their bodies, bringing them closer to me. We hold this embrace for what feels like an hour before we break off. Shining Armor and Cadance get out of bed and walk out of the room feeling much happier.

“Who wants breakfast?” I ask.

After a pancake and egg breakfast, I take a dip in the hot tub, with Shining Armor and Cadance joining me shortly after. We talk about many things, including my job at the movie theater, and in time, movies as well.

For dinner, I order some pizza, which they said they never had before, so I figured a little something new would be enjoyable for them. They fell in love with this food on their first bite. I’m glad I ordered 3 because they each ate a whole pizza by themselves. They were ponies after all. After dinner, I decide to play my bass for them, which they highly enjoyed.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Ian got home around ten after 9 with groceries in hand. He saw Shining Armor, Cadance, and I sitting on the sofa.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“Shining Armor and Cadance have something they want to tell you,” I say.

After Ian puts the groceries on the counter, Shining Armor and Cadance express their loneliness brought on by being away from their family and home much like they told me. Despite trying to sound calm about it, they can’t stop the occasional tear from tumbling down their cheeks.

Ian tells them that they should never have to feel alone with him and I around, much like I had predicted, even going as far as saying that if God forbid they can’t return home, they are his family and his house is their home. Ian gives the both of them comforting hugs, which they return with heartfelt smiles. I can’t help but smile at them as well.
________________________________________________________________________________________

I wake up the next morning as I hear Ian’s alarm clock going off downstairs. I get up and wake Shining Armor and Cadance. By the time Ian is about to leave out the door, Shining Armor, Cadance, and I are waiting there.

“Have a great day at work, Ian,” says Cadance. Ian walks over and hugs both Cadance and Shining Armor.

“Have a great day yourselves,” he says. With that, he leaves for work.

I have to be at the movie theater at 3 today and won’t be back until later tomorrow morning (Ian's letting me borrow his dad's van); Rock of Ages and That’s My Boy come out tonight and I have to man the midnight release shift, but for as long as I’m here, Shining Armor and Cadance have not seemed happier.

Chapter 8: The Best of Times

After a couple of long days at work, it’s finally Saturday. I have begun a ritual to close the store for the entirety of Father’s day weekend to commemorate my father’s death and so every child can spend as much time with their fathers as humanly possible. Plus, this being the only time I’ve really spent with Shining Armor and Cadance, along with Penny also having the weekend off, I want this weekend to be as fun as possible for them.

I decide to make vegetable and cheese omelets with all of the stuff I bought from the grocery store. The sizzling of eggs as they’re poured into the frying pan wakes Cadance and Shining Armor.

“Good morning!” I say to my friends.

“Morning Ian,” calls Shining Armor. “Where’s Penny?”

“She’s running to a friend’s house for something.”

“Okay.”

“Plus, she’s running to the store for tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“That’s right buddy. Penny and I are both off of work today and tomorrow, so we’re going to have fun, fun, fun tonight. Now, what do you like in your omelet?” Shining Armor and Cadance walk over to the table where all the ingredients are set. He then spots an ingredient that catches his attention.

“Whoa, is that bleu cheese?”

“Yeah?” I ask.

“Ian,” says Cadance, “bleu cheese is considered a delicacy in Equestria.”

“Really? I just bought a tub of it for 5 dollars at the Jewel.”

“5 dollars? That’s it?”

“I take you want some?”

I make them both an omelet. Hopefully by the time I’m done, Penny will arrive with her stuff and we can all eat together. Cadance asks for bleu cheese, scallions, and mushroom in hers, while Shining Armor asks for one with bleu cheese, mushroom, and tomato.

As predicted, I’m finishing Shining Armor and Cadance’s omelet when Penny comes in carrying a white mechanical box with wires.

“What’s that?” asks Shining Armor.

“Do you mind helping me carry some stuff?” she responds.

Shining Armor and Penny go back to the van. Penny is carrying a large plastic drum set with four multi-colored pads and three plastic cymbals with a different colored screw on top of them. Shining Armor carries in several plastic guitars and a plastic two octave keyboard. Penny runs back out one last time to grab a grocery bag with several boxes of AA batteries and a couple of wireless microphones with colored buttons and a control pad on them.

“So Penny,” says Shining Armor, “what is all of this?

“It’s Rock Band. It’s a game that we play in our world where you play songs by hitting colored buttons down a charted path.”
“I’m not sure what you just said, but it still sounds like fun.”

“I know. My friend has awesome Rock Band parties at her house and has her own channel on YouTube where she uploads all the new songs that come out every Tuesday.” Penny comes by as I’m finishing up making my own omelet. “Go sit down. I’ll make my own omelet.”

I sit down at the dining room table with Shining Armor and Cadance. We all wait until Penny finishes her omelet before we begin eating, which isn’t too long. We talk about ideas that we could do today, most of which I’d like to play by ear. Some ideas tossed around include a fun, social dip in the Jacuzzi, Penny and I playing for Shining Armor (for real), play Rock Band, dance a little, and maybe watch a movie when (or should I say ‘if’) the night winds down.

Shining Armor and Cadance are elated after breakfast because of the inclusion of bleu cheese, and in gratitude, decide to clean the dishes. While they do that, Penny and I, put fresh batteries into all of the Rock Band controllers for tonight.

This is going to be a lot of fun, I can tell.

We finish putting the last of the batteries in when Cadance and Shining Armor finish with the dishes.

“How about that hot tub?” I say.

Penny and I get into our bathing suits and make our way towards the Jacuzzi, where Shining Armor and Cadance are awaiting us (being that they didn’t need to change into bathing suits). The pool feels more crowded than usual, but being that this is the most people I’ve ever had in my Jacuzzi, I feel that it’s better to savor the friends that I have. I notice Shining Armor looking to the sky.

“What’s going on?” I ask him.

“I’m just wondering what my sister and aunt-in-law are doing right now.”

“I’m sure they’re doing everything they can to try and return you home. They should know more than anyone how much they miss you.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Armor? Is Equestria nice?”

“You have no idea. Everyone is extremely nice and the scenery is beautiful. My kind would welcome creatures like you with open arms.”

“That sounds good. Tell me, I’d like to learn more about Equestria. I’ve learned of some of the basic functionalities, but what else goes on?”

Shining Armor and Cadance spend a lot of time talking about the various towns of Equestria, including the one where Shining Armor’s sister, Twilight Sparkle, lives: Ponyville. They also talk about the various holidays which Penny and I humorously compare to our own. It is a pleasant conversation.

Once we get out, we realize that it’s almost lunchtime, so we make some cucumber and cheese sandwiches. Not too filling, seeing as Penny is going to order some pizza after she told me that Shining Armor and Cadance really liked it.

Once we’re done with lunch, I bring Penny, Cadance, and Shining Armor to the basement where we can play our songs. I find it strange playing songs without the accompaniment of the rest of the instruments, but a friend from college developed a website where he sells “naked” tracks: MP3s of songs that don’t have one or more of the instruments so a person can play along on any given instrument without the actual part playing over, giving the player a sense that he/she is playing the song. I was a great benefactor in helping him record the guitar parts for certain songs, so he gave me a membership that guarantee’s free songs for life.

Penny and I download some naked tracks that are missing guitar, bass guitar, and vocal parts. We spend the next few minutes afterwards organizing them in a playlist.

“You know,” I whisper, “the night I met Cadance and Shining Armor, I noticed that you were wearing a Nightwish t-shirt. You know any songs by them?”

“Do you?” Penny softly replies. I nod “That Imaginaerum album is pretty much the only album of theirs that I really know.”

“Me too. Let’s play it.”

“Okay.”

Shining Armor and Cadance sit down on sofa cushions that they took off the sofa on the other side of the basement and took a seat. Penny and I stand by each other, each with a microphone (unlike the Xbox ones upstairs) on a stand.

“Hello friends!” I yell as if he were addressing a pantheon of adoring fans. This causes Shining Armor and Cadance to laugh, which in turn causes me to blush. “Anyways,” I say in a quieter voice, “we have a wonderful show for you. So get pumped and enjoy the music.” Shining Armor and Cadance applaud genuinely. “Let’s go,” I tell Penny.

I hit the play button on my Windows Media Player. Each song has an introductory beat so starting off is easier. Our 1st set includes Porcupine Tree, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, Yes, and of course, Iron Maiden. Shining Armor and Cadance appear to be highly favorable about human music, especially the calmer and more serene Yes and Pink Floyd.

To cap off our performance, Penny and I play the entire Imaginaerum album front to back. Shining Armor and Cadance especially like this band, mainly because of the use of orchestra in the timbre. In fact, a couple of the songs get them really moving. They dance lively and energetically during I Want My Tears Back and Arabesque. They even go into steady slow dances during Turn Loose the Mermaids and The Crow, The Owl and the Dove. It’s during this moment that I realize how much I appreciate Penny playing with me. Our duet vocals on The Crow, The Owl and the Dove are particularly intimate and really bring forth a lot of emotions in me. By the end of Song of Myself, there isn’t really anything to play, seeing how the title track finale is an orchestral instrumental. Shining Armor and Cadance cheer us as we bow in appreciation. Penny and I sit next to Shining Armor and Cadance as we listen to the last song together.

“Thank you so much for that,” says Cadance as we walk up the stairs to the kitchen.

“It was our pleasure,” replies Penny. With all of the songs played, the time is now 4:15. Penny calls the pizzeria for delivery while I fix Shining Armor and Cadance a drink. As I come back up, Cadance and Penny are talking.

“I didn’t know you two had such great singing voices,” Cadance continues.

“Oh come on, they weren’t all that great. And you please be a little more quiet; I’m ordering the pizza now.”

“Okay.”

Penny orders four large cheese pizzas while I go to the stereo in the living room to put on some music. I merely put on my iPad and set it to shuffle.

“Alright,” Penny says, finishing the order, “see you then. Bye.” Once she finishes, I turn up the volume so more music can fill up the house. I find that the first song that comes on is Lay All Your Love on Me by ABBA. I begin dancing to it, much to Penny’s delight.

“You said you liked all kinds of music,” she laughs, “but I didn’t know you liked ABBA.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask. “This song is freaking awesome! Now dance with me.”

I outstretch my hand, inviting her to join me. Once she lays her palm on mine, I grab her and swing her close to me as we both dance to the chorus. Shining Armor and Cadance join in on the dancing as well. Throughout the songs, we switch partners, me dancing with Cadance and Penny dancing with Shining Armor. I half-expect to find dancing with a pony to be, well, awkward, but I’m pleasantly surprised to find how natural it felt dancing with her. I was even surprised by some of the moves we did, including one where she made me fall only to have her catch me with her wing and push me back onto my feet. It was exhilarating to say the least.

Once we heard the doorbell for the pizza, Shining Armor and Cadance knew the signal to hide. Penny answers the door.

“Your pizza, ma’am,” said the delivery boy.

“Thanks.”

“That will be $65.30.” Penny hands him four twenties. “Change, ma’am?”

“No, you keep it.”

“Thank you very much. By the way, you look really sweaty. Are you having a party in there?”

“Something like that.”

“Well, have fun."

Penny waits until the delivery car is out of view.

“The coast is clear,” she says.

Shining Armor and Cadance hide from upstairs and come down to the kitchen, where they each take a plate that Ian set on the counter with the boxes of pizza.

After a relaxing dinner in the living room, Cadance then questions the plastic guitars in the living room.

“What are these? Are we having another concert?”

“Not exactly.”

After inserting the Rock Band 3 disk into Xbox 360 after plugging it into the living room TV, Penny and I set up the instruments in their proper placements while we explain in much fuller detail how to play the game. Penny even plays a little bit of Highway Star by Deep Purple on the plastic five-button guitar as a demonstration.

“That seems simple enough,” says Shining Armor.

“So, who wants to play what?”

I first took a pro guitar (guitar controller with six strings) while Penny took the plastic bass controller and vocals while Cadance takes on the electronic keyboard and Shining Armor took drums.

I figure that they’ll both use magic to play the instruments. I mean, there’s no way a pony can play the drums or keyboards with their hooves.

I was half right. Shining Armor picks up the drumsticks with his magic while Cadance rests her hooves on the keyboard.

This is going to be interesting.

We browse through the selection of songs.

“What’s Llama?” asks Cadance.

“The hardest song in the game,” I say flatly.

I know the song and how to read the pro guitar charting, so I pick expert. As does Penny. As do Shining Armor and Cadance.

Now this is going to be good.

FOur minutes later, I look at the score. Five gold stars.

Wait, what happened?

“That was fun!” says Cadance.

“How did you two do that?” I ask.

“I used to play piano in school,” says Cadance.

“And you can do that without fingers?”

“I guess so.” Shining Armor then explains himself.

“It’s a requirement to play drums in our military.”

Okay, that one makes more sense.

We play some more songs in the format we’re in, when Cadance has a question.

“Is it possible to do vocal duets in this game?”

“Yes.”

Shining Armor and Cadance retire from their current instruments and grab a microphone. Penny continues the bass while I man the drums.

“So where are these duet songs?” ask Cadance.

I show her a few of the songs that would be suitable for them, including Total Eclipse of the Heart and two Lady Antebellum songs that they have available (Need You Now and Perfect Day) for Cadance, while Shining Armor has his eyes on Bon Jovi and Def Leppard. As they sing their songs, I find myself amazed that they know the melodies despite never having heard the songs before.

“How are you doing that?” I ask. “Have you heard these songs before?”

“Actually we have. Penny showed us on the ‘net’? Am I saying that right?”

It could be worse. She could have taken them to worse places.

After what feels like hours of playing and singing, we find ourselves exhausted, but the night still feels young. I figure now we can relax and watch a movie.

We head downstairs with me browsing my collection.

“What do you feel like watching?”

“I’ve always wanted to see Hugo,” says Penny.

I pull out the Hugo Blu-Ray from my shelf.

“How did you know that was there?”

“I browsed your shelf the first morning I spent here.”

“Do you mind Hugo?” I ask Cadance and Shining Armor, to which they reply by shaking their heads. “Hugo it is.”

Everyone makes their way to the sofa to relax. As the movie begins starting up, Penny goes upstairs to make bowls of popcorn. After giving us each one, we begin the movie. I’ve already seen the movie and I’m feeling strangely wiped, so I lie down on the couch and lull myself to sleep.
________________________________________________________________________________________

I wake up and find that it is morning, as evidenced by the clock on the wall that says 6:32. I nuzzle my head deep into the pillow, trying to fall back asleep, but I notice that the pillow is firm. I look around to find myself sleeping on Shining Armor’s stomach. I notice that he’s out cold, so my fear of waking him is diminished. I look to see Cadance sleeping next to Penny, her wing opened and covering her for warmth. I smile at the sight, but I know what today is. I gently lift myself from the couch and tiptoe upstairs, careful not to wake anyone.

Today is Sunday, June 17, 2012. Father’s Day. The first one I’ve had since my dad died. I always wondered how I would spend the day without him, but I certainly don’t feel as sad as I imagined I would. I can easily contribute that to the appearance of Shining Armor, Cadance, and Penny into my life. Had I been alone, today would have been much more unbearable. However, I feel strangely optimistic. I head to the back deck and sit on the railing looking out over the forest behind me as the sun rises over the trees.

I didn’t realize how long I sat out here, but I hear a knocking at the door. I see Penny there on the other side of the glass, but I continue to look over the horizon. She walks out and sits with me.

“You miss your dad, don’t you?” she asks.

“Like you couldn’t believe.”

“I’m sure I could.”

“How? At least you still have a father.” I then notice as Penny’s head hangs down in sadness.

“Ian, there’s something I need to tell you. It’s just I never thought of the right time to tell you… until now.”

“What is it?”

She tells me about her dead father, which comes as a shock to me. She tells me about the crash, her dropping out of school, and the change to her rent. She tells me about how much her father’s positive attitude impacted her life and why she is what she is.

“Ian,” she says. “I’m sorry I never told you this sooner.”

“No,” I interrupt, “don’t be. I’ve kept secrets too that I thought I never would want to reveal.”

“You can tell me. I won’t judge you.”

I tell her my story. About my dad, his marriage to Mallory, the debt she put us in, the subsequent divorce, and the stress of it all becoming the final nail in my dad’s coffin. I then tell her that it was my father’s death that almost caused me to become a recluse for the rest of my life.

“It wasn’t until Shining Armor and Cadance showed up that I realized that my life would be better in the company of others. It was their encouragement that allowed me to muster the courage to ask you out. If they had never come, I would have never really met you.” I can’t help a tear rolling down my cheek. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m an idiot right now.” I then feel a pair of arms wrap around my chest.

“You’re only an idiot for calling yourself that,” says Penny, still hugging me. “I could have asked you just as easily, but I’ve lived a life where people rejected me for being too plain. I thought you would rebuff me for the same reason.” I turn my head to Penny and cup her chin in my hands, having her look at me.

“You couldn’t be plain if you tried.” We then both hug each other as the sun fully rises in the sky.

After we reveal our emotions, we share more pleasant stories about the good times we had with our fathers. I talk about my dad teaching me to play instruments, the first concert he ever took me too, and my first tour into the shop. Penny talks about the trips they used to take together, the times they spent at the movie theater, and a particularly funny anecdote about a failed attempt at baking her dad a cake for his birthday.

Our merry conversation is interrupted by another tapping on the glass. It’s Shining Armor and Cadance. We both hop off the railing to join our friends inside.

“What’s this about?” asks Shining Armor.

I tell him what day it is, provoking a drooping of ears from both him and his wife and a sullen look on his face.

“I’m so sorry,” he says, “I didn’t know.”

“No need to feel sorry,” says Penny in a chipper tone. “Today is a day of celebration!”

Penny makes apple-cinnamon spice pancakes for breakfast, something she would make her own dad every Father’s Day. I see how delicious they look, especially with a tall glass of milk sitting in front of me.

“Here’s to our fathers,” I toast, “the people, and ponies, who nurtured us and taught us everything we know. Because without them, we wouldn’t be the people we are today.”

“Cheers,” calls everyone, clinking glasses. We then began our pleasant Father’s day breakfast.
________________________________________________________________________________________

By lunchtime, we just have leftover pizza from the night before. That’s when Penny gets a phone call on her cell. She answers it.

“Hello?”

“…”

“Really? Great.”

“…”

“Yeah, hold on just one second.” She then turns to us. “It’s my landlord. He said that the plumbing has been fixed and I can move back into my apartment.”

“Oh,” I say. I begin to look a little sad, seeing as how she’s going to be leaving here. Shining Armor and Cadance look a little unhappy at the prospect of their friend leaving the house.

“What’s wrong with all of you?” asks Penny with a giggle. “Do you really think I’m going to leave when I have two friends in need of company while Ian manages the store all day?” She then remembers her status as a guest in my home. “Well,” she addresses me, “that is if you want me to stay.” I smile.

“Penny, it would be my utmost pleasure to let you live in my home.” Penny grows wild eyed as she picks up the phone to her landlord again.

“Sorry, you still there?”

“…”

“No, it was just the host who kept me in. To be honest, I’m going to stay with him.”

“…”

“Listen, I know you’ve been very kind to me during my residence, but I just feel like… moving on.”

“… …”

“I’ll come by this afternoon. Thank you so much. Bye.” Cadance, Shining Armor, and I look for an answer from her. “He wants me moved out by tomorrow afternoon. Ian? You think you can help me?”

“Of course,” I answer. I walk over and embrace her. “By the way, you said you were staying to keep two friends company. What about me?”

“Well,” she said, “I think you’ve ranked higher than a friend in my book.”

“What?”

She puts her lips to mine and we kiss for the first time.

“Aww,” go Cadance and Shining Armor. I wave them away, causing them to giggle. We continue for another minute with Cadance and Shining Armor presumably watching.

Chapter 9: Home

Penny pays her landlord her last rent check today. It is Monday morning and I’m going to open the store up later today so I can help Penny get her final things in. I load the final boxes into my van and get in, but first Penny has to pay her rent one last time. With the price reduction, she only has to pay $300. She gives him a check for $700 as a thank you for his generosity.

Once she finishes her business, Penny and I drive back to my house to officially move her in. We walk in with Cadance and Shining Armor awaiting us.

“Welcome home,” says Cadance before both ponies hug her.

I join in the group hug.
________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s Sunday and both Penny and I have the day off. We’re both practicing our instruments while Cadance and Shining Armor watch us. Suddenly, I hear a knock at the door. I instantly tell Shining Armor and Cadance to hide. I walk to the door as casually as I can for a guy who is harboring two otherworldly ponies in his house. Once I open the door, I cannot contain my shock.

Standing on my doorstep are three equine creatures. One is very large and white. I can tell she’s a mare by the golden tiara on her head. She, like Cadance, is an alicorn, but she has a green, blue, and purple mane and tail that, despite the lack of wind, flow ceaselessly in the air. She has a cutie mark (if I remembered the term correctly) of a large sun on her flank.

The other one is a dark purple with a purple and blue mane that also seems to flow in the calm air. Her cutie mark is odd, seeing how it’s a large, black blot all over her entire rump with a crescent moon on it. The last mare is much smaller than the two, but she’s merely a unicorn, and her horn isn’t quite as long as the two mares next to her. She has a purple coat and a straight purple and pink mane that ends in a style similar to a bowl cut. There’s no coincidence here; I know exactly what they want.

“Shining Armor?” I begin sadly. “Cadance? It’s for you.”

I hear murmuring upstairs, as if Cadance and Shining Armor are contemplating what guests they could have that would be expecting them. Once the realization hits them, they practically gallop down the stairs to see who it is. Shining Armor’s gaze goes straight to the smaller, purple mare.

“Twily!” he cries.

Twily? Is that Twilight Sparkle.

Both ponies run to each other and wrap their arms around each other in a warm embrace. It warms my heart to see him reunited with his sister, but it pains me to know that this is his ride to his home world. I watch as Cadance runs to hug the other two alicorns.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” says Twilight, still hugging his brother. “They didn’t hurt you at all, did they?”

“No!” says Shining Armor in a protective manner. “In fact, these two have been very helpful and friendly to us.”

“Two? There’s only one here.”

“Penny!” I call. She comes down to see 3 more similar ponies inside the house. She understands what this means too.

“So you’re coming to take Shining Armor and Cadance home?” she asks.

“Yes,” said the white mare. Suddenly I put the pieces together. “Let me introduce myself. Im-”

“Princess Celestia, right?” Princess Celestia looked stunned. I then directed my gaze to the other alicorn. “You’re Princess Luna, and you’re Twilight Sparkle,” I finish, looking at the smaller mare.

“How do you know our names?” asks Celestia.

“Cadance and Shining Armor told me all about you two. Are you by chance tired from your trip here? Can I make you some tea?”

“Tea would be lovely.”

I don’t have enough strainers between the seven of us, so I opt to make the tea in a single glass pitcher and pour the tea through a strainer in the pitcher. I’ve come to realize at this very moment what little time I have left with my best friends. I want to try and prolong this just a little longer. As I put the water on, I rejoin everyone in the living room.

“So tell me,” I say, “Shining Armor told me that he and Cadance were sent here through a solar eclipse. How does that work exactly?”

“You see,” says Celestia. “A solar eclipse happens very uncommonly in Equestria. It’s a sight to behold, but sometimes, the magic that’s used to move the sun and the moon-”

“Whoa, whoa,” I interrupt, “did you say that the sun and the moon move by magic in your world?”

“Yes,” groaned Luna, “My sister and I are the ones responsible for raising the sun and the moon each day. And please don’t interrupt.”

“Sorry. Please continue.”

“Anyways,” said Celestia, “when the magic between my sister and I’s magic intersects like that, strange things happen.”

“You mean like teleportation?”

“Sometimes. In the case of teleportation, otherworldly things have appeared in our world, or objects or even creatures from our world can even disappear. I never thought that my own niece and nephew-in-law would be taken away from us like that.”

“How did you find us then?”

“One of the most renowned unicorns of our time was Starswirl the Bearded, and he believed that other worlds existed beyond our own. We took his theory to heart and scoured the universe looking for you. After two weeks, we finally found you. After plotting your world’s coordinates and gathering enough magic, we were able to travel to your world. When we woke up however, we found ourselves in this forest. We traveled down the forest until we found your house, and now we’re here.” The kettle is piping.

“Excuse me,” I say.

I pour the water into the pitcher. I come back to the circle to let it steep, where I talk about how I found them, and how we ended up helping each other. Every pony besides Cadance and Shining Armor was touched by our friendship. Once the tea was done steeping, Cadance asks to hear one last performance from Penny and I.

We don’t have time to lug out amps out here, so Penny grabs her bass while I grab an acoustic guitar. I pour everyone their tea and begin playing. The ponies applaud us as we transition from song to song, their cups growing emptier and emptier. We end our “set” with The Crow, The Owl and the Dove, the song from our performance last week that Cadance and Shining Armor loved so much. The ponies are moved to tears by our performance.

“Well,” says Celestia, “that was very pleasant, but we need to be returning home shortly. Please say your goodbyes and we’ll be on our way.”

I approach Shining Armor and give him a tight hug. As I hug him tighter, I realize that these will be our final moments together, and I begin to grasp how badly I don’t want them to end. Tears are rolling off my face.

“Thank you so much for taking care of me and my wife,” says Shining Armor. “I would not have made it without someone like you.”

“Thank you for saving me,” I sob. “You are truly the best friend I’ve ever had.” I can feel Shining Armor’s tears on the back of my neck as we continue hugging. Once we finally let go, I’m given a second hug by Twilight Sparkle.

“I can’t thank you enough for helping my brother,” she weeps, saddened by our breakup.

“It was a pleasure,” I choke up. “You should be really lucky to have a great brother such as him.”

Twilight lets go of me as I prepare to say goodbye to Cadance.

“You have been a wonderful host,” she sobs, hugging me. “I’m really going to miss you.” I then say three words to her that catch even me off guard.

“I love you.”

I meant to say it as platonically as possible, but I’m not sure how I said it. Despite this, she unfurls her wings and wraps them around my entire body, putting me in a soft, warm embrace. I finally muster the courage to let go of her.

Shining Armor is finishing her goodbye with Penny when Cadance and I walk up to them and make a large group hug.

“We will never forget you,” says Shining Armor.

“Nor will we forget you,” I say.

“Goodbye, my friends,” weeps Cadance. We slowly and reluctantly let go of each other as we separate from Shining Armor and Cadance, who back up towards Celestia and Luna.

“Thank you all,” says Celestia at last. “Your kindness and hospitality means the world to me. I cannot begin to think of a way that I can possibly repay you.”

“Trust me,” I giggle, hugging Penny close to me, “they’ve given me plenty,” eliciting tearful giggles from Cadance and Shining Armor.

“Are you ready?” asks Celestia. Shining Armor and Cadance nod.

Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, and Cadance walk back outside towards the driveway. Penny and I walk out to the doorstep to see our friends off. Celestia and Luna’s horns begin glowing bright. Before the light can fully envelop them, Cadance and Shining Armor give us a final wave goodbye. Penny and I wave goodbye as well.

Soon, the five ponies are nothing but a white ball of light. Suddenly, the ball shrinks and disappears. Shining Armor and Cadance have gone back to their home worlds away while we remain here, worlds apart. All I want to do now is look at the sky and wonder how our friends’ reunion is. If they’re safe. If they’re telling their friends about us. It’s all I want to do. Penny holds my arm and nuzzles her head onto my shoulder. It’s all she wants to do.

Thank you Shining Armor, Cadance. Thank you for being my friends.
________________________________________________________________________________________

The next day, I have to go to work. It feels strange, knowing that you’ll never see your two best friends ever again, but it’s comforting that you know that they are where they belong. Business is business as usual. Nothing newer, nothing older. Except for maybe one thing. The girl who would always walk into my store and never buy a single item, my love, was now living in my house with me. I smile again.

When I arrive home that night, I find a brown parcel on the doorstep. Upon parking the car in the garage, I walk over and pick it up. It’s very heavy, but I find the lack of a return address to be somewhat unnerving. Then I figure out who its from.

“Penny,” I call as I walk in, “did you see this package?”

“I already got the mail though.”

I find a note attached to the parcel, and I read it aloud.

“Dear Ian Carlington and Penny Lewis,

I again wish to thank you for taking care of my niece and nephew-in-law. What I have given you here isn’t much, but I wanted to show you some token of my appreciation. Once again, thank you for all that you have done.

Sincerely,
Princess Celestia.”

I then open the package and can’t believe what I see. Inside the package is fifteen long rolls of solid gold coins.

Wasn’t much, you say?!?

Penny and I jump around the house and hug each other over our windfall.
________________________________________________________________________________________

You might be wondering what me and Penny are doing with all of that gold. We’re saving it. I know, along with Penny, the ill effects of spending and spending, and I certainly don’t want to turn out like my mom. I did, however, use some of the money to pay for the house in full. With the money we have saved, let’s say that we’ll have a very comfortable retirement in our future.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Penny and I continue to do dinner and a movie night every Sunday evening, but Penny doesn’t work in the theater anymore. She works alongside me now at the store. I run the register and behind the counter, while Penny works with the customers in the store. With our camaraderie, my job has become less stressful than ever.

In fact, with my newfound sense of confidence that I’ve earned, I’ve made some new friends. There’s Paul, the rhythm/lead guitarist, there’s Mickey, the drummer, and there’s Samuel, the keyboardist. Penny is the bassist and vocalist, and there’s me the lead guitarist, backup vocalist, and Chapman stick player. Yes, we have a band now. We perform every Saturday night at a small pub in town and practice every Sunday afternoon (in accordance to Penny and I’s dates, of course). We’re called Armored Cadence. Seems rather fitting for a Iron Maiden/Nightwish/Prog Metal cover band.

________________________________________________________________________________________

December 16, 2012

________________________________________________________________________________________

The Jacuzzi feels rather nice in this weather. It also feels cool because it makes you imagine that you’re in a hot spring in the mountains. The snow gently falls as I look to the sky on my left and follow the falling snowflakes until I look my right as I look at the Christmas lights on the roof. Having soaked for about an hour now, I get out and take a shower.

It gets dark out early in the winter, but it makes dinnertime seem all the more scenic. Penny and I are having a roast that I made for dinner. We might not have been fully converted to vegetarians following Cadance and Shining Armor’s arrival, but we’ve certainly eaten a lot less of it.

As Penny cleans the dishes, I wait by the couch, expecting visitors. There are two bags of luggage by the front door along with a colorful paper-wrapped box and 2 cases for guitars, one being the case to Penny’s bass, the other being the case to an acoustic guitar of mine. I’ve closed the shop for the few days that we’ll be on vacation. There’s a knock at the door.

“They’re here!” I gasp.

I briskly walk over and open the door. Outside, standing there, are Shining Armor and Princess Cadance. I squeal their names in excitement and hug them, Penny following after.

“I’m so glad the princesses allowed us to come for the holiday,” Penny says. “Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

“And a Merry Christmas to you,” says Cadance. “What’s in the box?”

“A little Christmas present for you,” I say. Inside is a vinyl copy of Nightwish’s Imaginaerum (it took me forever to find on eBay for some reason) and several tins of that tea we gave them (but we won’t tell them).

“Are you two ready to go?” asked Shining Armor.

“Just a sec,” I say.

I run to my bedroom and pull the drawer out a bit. I grab a small box from underneath my shirts and examine the contents. Inside is a gold diamond ring.

I’m certain that this will be the right moment.

I slip the box into my jacket pocket and come back downstairs.

“Okay,” I say, “I’m ready.”

All four of us walk to the driveway with our luggage by our side. Shining Armor and Cadance begin casting a spell that makes their horns glow brightly. As light envelops us all to transport us, I clasp Penny’s hand in anticipation, as I will be spending my first Hearth’s Warming Eve and Christmas with my best friends.

Not to mention, my future wife.

Chapter 10: All You Need Is Love (BONUS)

The light fades from around us as we see that we are standing in the snow dusted streets of what I assume to be Canterlot. Having never been to Canterlot before (or in Equestria at all for that matter), I am wowed by the sheer majesty the city, its architecture, and the stunning yuletide decorations that line every building and every streetlamp: wreaths, mistletoe, holly, you name it. It’s like living inside the Christmas display at Marshall Fields. Shining Armor and Cadance giggle as they watch mine and Penny’s faces scan the area like a child in a candy emporium.

Like back home, the weather is very nice for winter. It’s just below freezing so that the snow could gently fall, but there’s not a gust of wind whipping in our faces, allowing our jackets to keep us warm and comfortable. I feel bad seeing that all Shining Armor and Cadance are wearing are scarves and a hat, but remembering that they are ponies and are “built” for being in this weather without protection, I scoff with a smile, leaving a puff of vapor to float in the air.

“So what do you think?” asks Shining Armor. “Isn’t the city beautiful?”

“Yes,” I sigh, still taken in by its majesty. “It’s absolutely gorgeous.”

“God,” Penny exclaims, “the venues here must be stunning! I sure hope to go to one once in my life!”

“Well,” Cadance chuckles, “why not now?”

“Huh?”

“Yeah,” explains Shining Armor, “we have four front row center tickets to the Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant at the Canterlot Palace.”

“Wait,” Penny says, holding her finger up exaggeratingly, “so not only are we going to go see a show, but it’s at the freaking palace?”

“Well, yeah.”

Penny squeals with delight and runs over and hugs Shining Armor and then Cadance, her “thank yous” becoming near-inaudible squeaks. I can’t help but chuckle at Penny’s gratefulness and Shining Armor and Cadance’s generosity, and I give both of them a more respectable and friendly hug.

“Thanks guys,” I say to Shining Armor.

Turning my body the other way, I stifle my giggles of anticipation, trying my hardest not to spill the surprise I’ve got for my three friends.

“The pageant starts in about thirty minutes,” Cadance chirps, “so we might as well get a move on.”

“Right!” I agree, carrying my luggage and my guitar case on the ground.

Penny picks up her bags as well as her bass guitar case and waits for our pony friends to lead the way.

Once Shining Armor and Cadance begin walking, Penny and I follow closeby. The first thing I happen to notice is that the other ponies, who I would have assumed to be frightened by our appearance, actually glance at us with cheerful expressions, as if we were celebrities. Confused, I walked up close to Shining Armor.

“Hey,” I ask. “What’s with the ponies? Shouldn’t they be scared of us or something?”

“I can’t see why not,” he answers with a slight giggle. “You see, after we came back from your world after you took us in, the tale of your hospitality spread throughout Equestria, and they look at you with respect and honor. Not to mention, it’s the holidays. Everyone’s cheerful.”

“I heard that!” Penny exclaims.

“Not only that, but Princess Celestia has made you her VIP guests at the castle for your stay, and has requested that you share a drink with her and Princess Luna after the pageant.”

“Stay? Castle? Wait, so you’re saying–”

“Yes, Penny,” answers Cadance. “You’ll be staying at the castle for Hearth’s Warming Eve.”

Penny’s jaw drops in the most adorable way.

“Shut. Up!”

“I can shut up if you like,” Cadance answers giddily, “but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re staying in the castle!”

Penny squeaks once again as she quickly kicks her knees up as she walks.

“It’s okay,” I tell my love. “We’re staying at a castle, not Disneyland.”

“Exactly!” shouts Penny, brimming with childlike joy. “We’re staying at a castle! What’s the difference?”

Good point.

After a pleasant walk, we finally reach the castle walls which is guarded by two armored guards who are letting a large line of ponies in who were ready to see the pageant.

“And speaking of Disneyland,” I say in the best comedic deadpan I could give, “lines.”

Penny playfully slaps my arm as Shining Armor and Cadance lead us straight to the guards, bypassing all of the ponies still waiting to enter.

“Hey!” calls one of the guards. “If it isn’t Shining Armor and his lovely wife.”

“Oh, go on,” Cadance says, pawing the air and blushing.

“And you brought your guests!”

“Yes,” Shining Armor introduces us, “Spearhead, Golden Brace. These are my two friends Ian Carlington and Penny Lewis.”

We shake both of the guards’ hooves with smiles on all of our faces.

“Shining’s told us lots about the two of you,” says Spearhead.

“Hopefully not too much,” Penny wittily retorts, earning a warm chuckle from all of us.

“Well,” Golden Brace said, “I don’t want to keep you any longer. Enjoy the show, you guys!”

“Always do, Brace,” Shining Armor said with a wave.

The guards let us pass on and towards the castle on a drawbridge over the frozen moat. In all honesty, I was feeling uptight looking at the water. More uptight than I should be on a day like today. It’s all going to work today. I know it will.

By the time we get in, the first thing Penny and I want to do was look around the place. There are enough stained glass walls in this room to make the Notre Dame blush, and the ivory and marble pillars were stunning to look at. However, we were not here to look at art.

Cadance slips Penny’s faux fur jacket from her torso, revealing the sparkling red dress that a friend of Shining Armor’s sister, Twilight, made for her birthday. Shining Armor also begins to take my jacket off, but I stop him in time.

“Wait,” I calmly protest, “I left my wallet in my pocket.”

I saw as Penny’s head was turned away to look at more of the palace, so I quickly grasp the box of her ring from my pocket, hoping to conceal it further, and slip it into my frontal pants pocket.

“Okay,” I say, giving Shining Armor the go-ahead. “Thank you.”

Once, he take my jacket off, showing my white shirt and red tie, Shining Armor and Cadance trot over to place our coats at the coat check. I stand next to Penny with her opposite my ring pocket.

“So,” I told her. “Are you ready for the show?”

“Ian,” she says in her calming tone of voice, “I know it’s a pageant held at the equivalent of the White House, but it’s still a pageant.”

And it will be the best one you ever attend.

Shining Armor and Cadance come back.

“Shall we take our seats?” asks Shining Armor.

“Yes,” I agree. “Let’s.”

Walking up the stairs and to the left, we come into a large chamber with both sides emblazoned with more stained glass art and holiday decorations. In the center of the chamber, there are rows of ponies sitting down to watch the show, but we passed them all, getting to our seats at the very front, with a deep red stage with a lime-green tent above it.

Penny and I’s previous dinner-and-a-movie night was when we went and saw a screening of Anna Karenina in downtown Chicago. I can’t help but be reminded of it upon looking at the stage. Of course, we’re missing another of our ritual dates for this, but I know it will be totally worth it.

Once we take our seats, I browse more around the room, looking for a specific someone.

“What’s wrong?” Shining Armor whispers in my ear.

“Where’s the princess?” I ask.

“She usually sits in the balcony near the back of the hall. She likes to ensure that her subjects get the best seats. Besides, she’s seen this show hundreds of times… literally.”

I chuckle, knowing full well how old Celestia was. It doesn’t matter. As long as she’s here, my plan will work out.

Minutes feel like hours as we wait for the show to begin, and sure enough, the lights from the torches that are lighting the halls begin to dim, finally signaling the start of the show. A spotlight hits the stage and a tune from a harpsichord sounds before the curtains are drawn back, revealing a small, purple dragon in formal noble attire standing in front of a fireplace. Penny and I silently giggle at the silliness and cuteness of the sight, but he begins anyway.

“Once upon a time,” he starts, as stories often start, “long before the peaceful rule of Celestia, and before ponies discovered our beautiful land of Equestria, ponies did not know harmony.”

I am impressed. His iambic pentameter is spot on, really putting me in a very Shakespearean mood.

“It was a strange and dark time,” the dragon continues, “a time when ponies were torn apart… by hatred!” he hissed in a more sinister tone.

The ponies, in response, gasp in fright, horrified at such a prospect. Even Shining Armor and Cadance gasp along with them.

“I know,” the dragon says to the crowd in a much more casual tone, “can you believe it?”

Penny and I just smile wide as the show goes on.

“This gon’ be a good show,” whispers Penny.

As the pageant continues, we learn of the three pony tribes as they were divided by a blizzard that caused famine, and thus, issues between the soon to be warring tribes. Already, the set design is magnificent, only reminding me further of Karenina.

Soon, I meet Clover the Clever, and I instantly recognize her: Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor’s sister. He did say on the walk here that her and her friends would be reenacting the pageant as they did the previous year due to the massive positive reception. I can see why. The performances are fun and make the surprisingly dark story quite enjoyable.

Soon, the ponies trek out to find a new home, which would become Equestria, led by their three bigoted leaders and followed by their more liberal lackeys, each one having a silly and suitable name. Upon finding the land, the ponies are stuck inside a cave and are frozen in by windigoes (very clever), creatures that freeze the area around them when they see hatred and discontent.

However, because of the lackeys’ putting their differences aside and loving each other unconditionally, they are able to defeat the windigoes with a magical flame that also frees them. The leaders then resolve to end their prejudices and hate against their fellow pony and create Equestria together.

As touching as the story was, I knew it was ending, and soon, my plan will begin, and I’m about to start sweating bullets. As a chorus of singing rings through the hall in the form of the Hearth’s Warming Eve Carol, I await for the end to come as it finally does, closing the curtains on the six main characters and the draconic narrator, resulting in thunderous applause and cheers.

The curtains open again to reveal Twilight and her pony friends staying onstage for bows. Knowing the moment was coming soon, I pull a Flip video camera from my pocket, turned it on, and hit record, placing it in front of Shining Armor.

“What do you want me to with this?” he asked.

“Just keep that camera aimed on Penny and I at all times, no matter what,” I instruct, followed by a determined nod.

Upon the clapping dying down, I finally hear Celestia’s voice. I have never heard it myself before, but her voice was ethereal. It had a commanding tone while sounding kind and motherly as well.

“Thank you all for attending this pageant,” she spoke. “The tale of Hearth’s Warming Eve is a timeless tale that shows the true bonds of friendship, something that each pony holds dear to their heart.

“However, it was only half a year ago that another tale had become heard throughout the land of Equestria. One about the royal guard and his wife ending up in a completely different world from their own. Despite the fear they felt upon being so very far away, two young creatures took them in and kept them warm, fed, and safe.

“Because of them, my niece and her husband are safely here with us tonight!”

A spotlight shines on both Shining Armor and Cadance, the audience giving applause to them.

“And because of their selflessness and capacity for love, I have invited them both here today. So without further ado, I’d like to welcome to the stage, Mr. Ian Carlington and Penny Lewis!”

The spotlight shifts to us now, forcing me to pull Penny up by her hand and escort her onstage with me, where we are now subject to the audience’s applause. Shining Armor, as instructed, kept the camera on us. We can also hear the show’s stars behind us as well, but once the clapping and clopping dies down, I can finally begin.

“Thank you,” I begin, my voice carrying rather well. “As Celestia told you, the two of us took Shining Armor and Cadance in after I literally found them at my doorstep, freezing in the rain. I had no idea what to do with them first, honestly, but after I got to know them and they got to know me, I formed an unbreakable bond with them, and soon they became my very best friends.”

More applause, but I put my hands up in silence, wanting to continue badly.

“However, I cannot begin to tell you all how indebted to them I truly am. Before I had met them, a bitter divorce and my father’s death disillusioned all sense of friendship and love from me. From that day on, I had planned on living my life alone and stay alone until the day I died.”

Ponies now gasp at this prospect, but I continue.

“However, these two taught me through their love and kindness how important it is to have friends, and through their guidance, they helped me meet, befriend, and fall in love with Penny here.”

Penny was feeling slightly embarrassed at being put on like this, but she grew more confident as the ponies cheered her on as well, quieting down soon after.

“The next six months I spent with Penny up until now have been the absolute best of my life. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d meet a more talented, pretty, funny, smart, and charming young woman like herself,” I continued, grabbing her left hand. “However, I can unfortunately say that I’m not entirely happy. Not yet, that is…”

I turn from the audience to face her, and in the final moment of truth, I kneel down on one knee. Penny’s smile turns into a gasp of shock, cupping her hands over her mouth and tears streaming from her face. The audience at first seems confused, but as soon as I pull out the box and reveal its contents to Penny, the crowd goes ecstatic.

Shining Armor and Cadance inhale deeply with their eyes and smiles widening, about to witness a most beautiful moment. The show’s stars also begin chattering excitedly, knowing exactly what I am about to do. Penny, on the other hand, is completely ecstatic. Although her face looks like an incorrigible sadness, I know she’s still overcome with happiness over what I am doing. She tries fanning her face with her hand, but it’s not helping. The cheering begins to die down, allowing me to finish.

“Penny,” I say, choking up myself. “These ponies have shown through their pageant that love and friendship carries us through the darkest of moments. Because of that, I know I want you to be there with me through those moments. But that’s not all. I want you to continue going out to dinner with me, I want to continue going to the movies with you every Sunday, I want you to continue making music with me every day for as long as we both shall live.”

Shining Armor and Cadance are beside themselves at this point, and I can hear their sobs from the front of the audience. There are even sniffles coming from Twilight and her friends.

“If you want the same things as I do, if you love me the same way that I do and always will, then I have one question for you: Penny Lewis,” I declared, barely keeping it together, “will you marry me?”

It doesn’t take long for her to answer, as she nods her head with her arms raised for an oncoming embrace.

“Yes!” she cries.

With her confirming answer, I leap from my kneel and hug her as tight as I possibly can, our tears streaming down our backs. The cheers coming from the ponies are louder than ever before, but they are inaudible compared to the cheers coming from Shining Armor and Cadance, who are also crying their eyes out.

I pull Penny from our hug and we meet our faces together in a passionate kiss, continuing to be cheered on by the ponies in the crowd.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

June 7th, 2013

_________________________________________________________________________________________

I’m standing underneath the Crystal Palace as we are just concluding our wedding. Shining Armor stands by my side in his formal guard jacket as my Best Man (or Stallion), with my bandmates, Paul, Mickey, and Samuel, as well as a few of Shining Armor’s old friends from the Guard, as my groomsmen.

Cadance can’t be Penny’s Maid (or Mare) of Honor, because she’s serving as our pastor of sorts. Instead, Rainbow Dash, whom Penny got to know more as we began visiting Equestria more and more frequently, serves as Mare of Honor in her stead, with Twilight Sparkle (who has since become an alicorn) and her friends as the bridesmaids.

There isn’t a dry eye among either of us or those in attendance, who entirely consist of ponies from Shining Armor and Cadance’s new home at the Crystal Empire, as well as some family and friends of the groomsmen and the bridesmaid. The turnout was unbelievable.

Behind Cadance is a teal, crystal heart held and levitating in between two long, icicle-like pillars. I don’t know of its function or why its glowing like it is, but it doesn’t matter to me. I longingly look at my bride in her stunning white and gold wedding dress, once again, beautifully designed and made by Rarity, as Cadance begins to cap the wedding off.

“Do you, Ian Carlington,” Cadance asks me, “take Penny Lewis to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” I say with a confident smile, truthfully speaking every word.

“And do you, Penny Lewis, take Ian Carlington to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” she says.

“May the Best Stallion present the rings, please?”

Shining Armor produces a red pillow with both of our wedding rings on them in his magical grasp. Cadance then takes the rings from the pillow and magically places them on our fingers.

“By the power invested in me,” concludes Cadance, “I now pronounce you, man and wife! You may kiss your bride.”

Penny and I meet each other back into the center and embrace our lips with each other’s, fueled on by the applause coming from the crowd, the groomsmen, and the bridesmaids.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, I present to you, the loving couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ian and Penny Carlington!”

The cheers are now heard as I continue kissing my bride. Though my eyes are closed, I hear the crystal heart shimmering and whirring, and I can sense a bright light beneath us through my closed eyelids. The light then suddenly fades as I can sense a similar brightness from where the Crystal Heart is. What follows is the sudden relinquishing of the light and a bass-filled shooting sound shooting into the air. Then, a large explosion is heard over head, causing Penny and I to stop our kiss.

“Ian!” called Penny. “Fireworks!”

We both run from off the makeshift altar and from underneath the Crystal Palace. We are amazed to see a bright shining star high above the palace with multicolored aurora’s dancing in the sky.

Certainly a lot cooler than fireworks.

We then see a rainbow colored contrail fly high into the sky from underneath the palace and towards the star. Upon hitting it, Rainbow Dash emits a large, rainbow-colored ring that spreads across the sky in a thick ripple, as well as a rainbow-colored contrail following the cyan pegasus.

“So that’s a Sonic Rainboom,” sighs Penny, taking in the beauty of our wedding.

We then look to the back of the aisle to see a shining, crystal carriage pulling up and being drawn by four crystal stallions. Looking a back at each other, we run to the carriage, ready to head to the reception. Before we can climb in, Penny takes her bouquet and and tosses it behind her head as high as she can. The mares all clamor to catch it, and it looks like it will be caught by Pinkie Pie, but suddenly, the rainbow blur whooshed by and the bouquet was gone.

“You snooze, you lose!” Rainbow Dash giggles, holding her prize triumphantly.

Penny and I laugh heartily as Rainbow Dash dances in the air with her bouquet in her hand. Before we have another chance to hop inside the carriage, we are stopped by Shining Armor and Cadance, who quickly trot over to us, with Samuel, Mickey, and Paul following close.

“Hey,” called Shining Armor. “Don’t we get to congratulate you on your big success.”

“How could we forget?” I say, giving Shining Armor the tightest hug I’ve ever given him.

Cadance is also giving Penny a tight hug. Once we finish, Penny and I hug the respective other.

“We’re so proud of you both,” Cadance squeaks, trying to keep her tears in check.

Once the hugging is over, I can’t help but notice the tears forming at Shining Armor’s eyes.

“Dude,” I say with a joking smile, “you gotta’ keep that liquid pride in check.”

“I’ll be sure to do that,” chuckles Shining Armor with a lump in his throat.

“How’s the setup, Mickey?” I asked.

“Splendid,” he annouces with full enthusiasm. “Just gotta’ go up and play.”

“Anyways,” Paul says, “we’ll meet you all at the reception.”

“Congrats, you two,” Samuel says.

“Thanks,” I call, giving them a wave.

I help my bride into the carriage with the typical “Just Married” sign on the back before climbing in myself. As the carriage begins to pull away, I wave at all my friends and the other attendees as they get smaller by the second. It isn’t until I spot Shining Armor and Cadance again, that I feel my eyes watering and my tears rolling down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” Penny chides, “but who has to get their liquid pride in check?”

Smiling at her witty statement, I wipe my eyes and jump back onto the seat, snuggling up to my wife. My beautiful, lovely wife. A wife I wouldn’t have hoped to meet if it wasn’t for them. As the buildings on the street continue to pass us, I can only imagine how our own road will go from here.

All I know, is that with Penny, Shining Armor, and Cadance by my side, I can see no smoother road to travel on.

Acknowledgements

This story is dedicated to my own dad, who, while not deceased like Ian’s father or Penny’s father, will be leaving home this August to teach at a charter school in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. For those of you who love your fathers and for those whose fathers love you, cherish each second you spend with them, because one day, there won’t be any seconds left. Love your dads, and most importantly, love your life. Thank you.