Changing Harmony Book 1 A trip to the land where equines rule

Chapters

Prologue: The Hunters and The Farm House
Chapter 2: Getting a Job and Going to a Party
Chapter 3: Canterlot oh Canterlot and meeting the apples.
Chapter 4: Telling Celestia Jay’s Tale, A Concert, A Club, and Telling the truth to Vinyl and Tavi.
Chapter 5: The decision, Meeting Twilight again, Becoming Celestia’s friend, Travelling.
Chapter 6: Looking for the Elements, Attracting the Mares, Making Friends.
Chapter 1: Waking up in the Everfree, Meeting Rainbow, and facing off with THEM!

Prologue: The Hunters and The Farm House

My little pony friendship is magic: Changing Harmony.

Book 1: A trip to the land where Equines Rule.

Legalities: I don’t own my little pony; I don’t own anything to do with the show. I only own original characters and the plot. That said this will be an OC harem story so if you don’t like don’t read. It will be somewhat OC centric, but not completely, there will be parts that focus on the mane six, the princesses, etc. That all said on to the story.
Prologue: The farm and the hunters.

Two figures wearing cowled cloaks walked along a deserted path. The taller of the two was holding their side coughing softly every now and then. The shorter however was writing in a notebook and watching the area for their enemy. The two weren’t exactly regular beings. They were hunters, but not the kind of hunters most know. Instead they were hunters of the things that go bump in the night, the darkness that infected their world, and the creatures that craved the flesh of the living and tormented the souls of the dead. Yes they were monster hunters.

The taller of the two coughed out a thin trail of blood and said “Between my ribs and the poison flooding my system, I don’t know which is going to kill me first?” His companion chuckled and seemed to look at him questioningly. He snorted and said “I know I know, we’re used to demonic magic, especially with our physiology, but it doesn’t mean that poison doesn’t affect the body on its way out. It also doesn’t mean my ribs can handle taking as much of a beating as they’ve been through.”

His companion just snorted and said “Calm down, it’s not like the wounds are too serious, another day and they’ll heal on their own. It’s not like you to complain so much, so there must be something bigger going on. What aren’t you telling me?” The taller figure mumbled something out and his companion asked “What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”

He sighed and said “I feel like we’re getting hurt more than those we hunt.” The smaller of the two nodded in understanding so he continued “So far we’ve managed to cut off an arch demon’s head, track down a pack of hellhounds, and slay a bunch of vampires this week alone. It’s almost like their stirring for something big. Then there was the demon we chased here. What’s so special about an abandoned farm?” His companion shrugged and the two continued walking as he said “I mean the last time a demon ran away we were at a nexus that dragged us into another world.”

His companion smirked under his hood and said “Who knows, maybe this time they’ll drag you to a new world and it’ll be nothing like ours. I mean the last one we went to was only different in that the genders were reversed. Was so weird staring at a female version of myself.” He glanced at his companion and said “So Jay? What now?”
Jay, the taller of the two, sighed and said “I don’t know Zero, I just don’t know. I figure we kill the demon and go home for a while then start again next week.” Zero nodded and the two lowered their cowls as the air around the ranch was warmer than the air along the path leading there for some reason. Jay had dirty blonde hair with grey eyes that were changing color every time the light hit them, and Zero had black hair with dark brown eyes and a moustache and beard. Jay’s hair was short but curled slightly around his ears while Zero’s was long and fluffy.

They walked on a ways and Jay stared at the farm house they were approaching he muttered “I sense a trap.” Zero nodded and drew a pair of pistols from within his cloak, his hands covered with gloves. Jay meanwhile pulled out a bastard sword from behind his back, and tightened his fingerless gloves. He had metal plates on the back of his gloves, and held his sword with both hands, twirling it over his shoulder once then resting the blade on his shoulder and said “Do we just barge in or go in with a plan?”
Zero looked at him and said “Well I’m for the charge in and attack plan, but if you have a better idea I’m all ears. After all, if we just charge in that we could be walking into a trap, but I don’t know where we go from here man. You’re the leader, I’m just a cat.” Jay chuckled as a pair of cat ears appeared out of his friend’s hair, and a pair of wolf ears appearing out of his own hair.

Jay chuckled and said “Right, ever since that spell our animal traits are more pronounced. I guess me being part wolf is what led to you always looking to me as a guide.” Zero nodded and their ears vanished completely as their senses returned to those of a normal human and their bodies lost a little of their mass from the decrease in animal DNA. Jay said “You go around the back and I’ll go in the front. That way if there is a trap I’ll trigger it and you can get me out of it.”
Zero nodded and said “Aye,” vanishing around the corner of the house. Jay meanwhile rushed in the front door holding his sword in front of him to block any attacks only to find the front completely empty. He growled softly fighting his instincts and slowly started searching throughout the room for any sign of trouble. He heard Zero call from the kitchen “All clear. I think the bastard went upstairs.” Jay started for the stares as Zero walked into the room and followed him.

Jay started up the stairs a few minutes later with Zero following. The two got to the first landing and Jay said “I think this is a trap.” Zero nodded and Jay said “Out Now.” Zero threw him out the window just as the house was lit up with a bright light and vanished.
He swore as he heard Zero saying “You’re going to carry on without me. It looks like I won’t make it this time. I enjoyed knowing you Jay, and maybe we’ll see each other on the other side. Earth doesn’t need protectors anymore, we shut all the gates, now it’s time for you to go somewhere else and protect them. After all, you are a wolf and wolves live to protect their friends and family. I’m just a cat, a cat that lost everything a few years ago, but you gave me a new purpose. Anyway I’m rambling so I’ll stop. See you around.” The house vanished completely, along with Zero’s voice.

Jay sighed and let a few tears fall for his friend then lunged at the demon, who came up out of the basement laughing at what he’d just done. He slammed his blade into the demon’s throat only for it to start laughing. He growled out “What’s so funny?”
The demon smirked and said “This world may be safe, but the world I’m going to is ripe for the taking. They believe in friendship, and it will be fun breaking their wills. This world was full of strife and trouble, but you hunters saved it. Now with most of you dead, and only you left I think we’ll finally win.”

Jay snarled and said “Over my dead body. Wherever you go I go, I’ll stop you no matter what it takes.” The demon laughed as a magic circle appeared under the two of them and tried to throw Jay off. Jay however finished removing its head causing it’s laughter to die as its blood activated the circle. It was originally going to kill Jay and use his blood to activate the circle but the tables had been turned. Its lifeless body turned to dust as the blood wet the ground and the circle started to glow with a blackish bluish light.
Jay swore and tried to get out of the circle only for a barrier to prevent him. He growled and slammed his fists against the barrier as his chimera nature started to take over. Unlike Zero and other hunters he’d undergone multiple transformative procedures, so his body was very malleable. The magic latched onto his malleability and started to shift and shape his form causing him to cry out, and then pass out from the pain.

As he passed out he noticed everything around him changing. The world fell away to be replaced by a white void. Jay lay on the void not moving as the corrupted magic combined with the natural earth magic flowing through his body and started to shape him into a new form. The demonic magics dragged him through time and space to another world where the natural magic of the place purified the demonic taint in his body and combined with the ritual magic he and other hunters had used to fight demons.
It increased his body mass, but because he was a melee and magic fighter as well as a ranged user it started to change his body to a lean, toned, athletic look. His eyes glowed under his closed lids, and changed shape. His feet turned into hooves to suit the natural dominant species of this world, and his body became covered in pitch black fur. The tattoos and scars on his body vanished as they were covered by fur. His hair grew down the back of his neck and down over his face. He grew a tail that was a mix of the blonde in his mane and black in his tail with a crimson tip. The tail looked more like that of a wolf or fox than pony, and his ears were slightly more canine in shape with crimson tips.

The white void vanished and he was deposited in a clearing deep in what equestrians knew as the Everfree forest. This is where our hero’s story truly begins, and where the fate of Equestria is ripped out of the hands of the gods and into the hands of mere mortals. So begins the change of Harmony.

Author's Note

So this is chapter 1. We don't really see the citizens of Equis yet, but that's only because we had to have the character get to Equis in the first place. Chapter 2 should introduce some of the mane six and the princesses, as well as one of the threats facing Equestria.

Chapter 2: Getting a Job and Going to a Party

Chapter 2: Getting a job and Going to a party

The following morning Jay woke up and looked around. He swore when he realized that everything that happened the day before was definitely real. He ran a hand through his forelock grumbling under his breath. He tried to sit up and felt a stinging in his back. He winced and lay back down. Nurse Redheart walked in and he blinked realizing that she was indeed a mare like he thought yesterday. She was average height, a little under five and a half feet. She had a white coat with pink hair and a pink tail. Her hair went down her neck forming a mane and she said “Hello there. I’m glad you’re awake.” He raised an eyebrow noticing she was in a nurse’s uniform with the little cap and everything, with a bright red cross on both cap and shirt.

He stared at her and said “Hello miss. I have a question, how did I get here, and how badly was I hurt?” The mare blinked surprised, knowing he’d been awake yesterday to talk to Rainbow, but the fact he couldn’t remember anything was worrying. After all he had a head wound but it didn’t result in any trauma other than scarring of his facial tissue, or so they’d assumed.

She replied “My name is Nurse Redheart, and to answer your question you were brought in yesterday by Ponyville’s very own Rainbow Dash. As for how badly you were hurt, you had four slash marks across your face filled with a strange poison that it took magic to heal, scratches all over your back, and a hole in your side.” Jay mouthed each wound to himself then touched his side feeling how tender it was before running a finger down his face feeling the scar tissue with fur surrounding it.

He blinked wondering why his face felt so fuzzy when he wasn’t letting his animal sides out, then shook his head and said “When can I get out of here?” The nurse thought about this for a while trying to find the best way to tell him he shouldn’t leave for at least a week. She worried he’d have a relapse from the poison since they weren’t sure they’d gotten all of it. If he didn’t have a relapse from that there were the wounds on his back which were healing at a remarkable rate, but it wasn’t as if the wounds were gone already.

Nurse Redheart thought about it a while then said “We’d like to keep you over the weekend; however no one paid for your stay so we can’t technically hold you here.” Jay winced at hearing he had to pay, and then Redheart stared at him and asked “Can you pay for this?” He shook his head. She sighed and said “I guess we’ll work out a way for you to pay back the hospital.” He nodded slightly and coughed a bit of blood into his hand then looked questioningly at Redheart.

She looked back and he said “I can get out of here despite that, right?” She nodded and he got up then unwound the bandages from his body and his tail flicked as his horn glowed and brought his clothing to him. He was competent in levitation, but that was only because he had used levitation magic before. He’d had to use it to set up traps for demons, as well as get objects off himself after being thrown through walls. Honestly it was surprising no one knew about him with how much collateral he’d had to dish out for damages caused over the years. He usually had cash on him, but his wallet was empty because he honestly thought this would be his last battle with demons.
Sadly that proved to not be the case and as such he didn’t even have normal money to try and pay with. He stretched and asked “What’s the currency of Equestria?” Nurse Redheart raised an eyebrow and he explained “I’m not from Equestria. I’m from a land far away and we don’t really communicate with outsiders.”

Redheart nodded and said “Understandable. We use gold coins called bits for currency.” Jay nodded and got dressed then stretched out again flexing his back’s muscles and feeling the freshly healed skin pull. He winced at the feeling and sighed then glanced at himself in a mirror held up by Redheart and saw that his back was indeed healed but it was scared over, white hair having grown into the black leaving him with the marks of scratches in his back and shoulders.

He smiled at Redheart and said “Thank you for all your help ma’am. I know that having to treat someone who can’t pay is never fun. Especially when their wounds were as severe as mine probably were.” Redheart just smiled happy he was so polite and genuinely seemed to be planning on paying for his treatment eventually. It was understandable for him to have no money when he just got in town. Especially if he was passing through the Everfree, as she was thinking this Jay got up and started for the door then said “Thanks again. I may be seeing you a lot nurse Redheart; then again I may only see you when I need to pay you.” She smiled and waved farewell as he walked out.
Jay walked down the street of ponyville, pulling his ruined duster tighter around him, and looked around taking in the bright happy faces. So different from how everyone had been after the demon’s had first attacked earth openly. He sighed remembering his old home and ran a hand through his mane, pulling up the hood of his duster, which was more a cloak than a regular duster.

Ponies saw him walking down the street with a dark aura about him and quickly ran to hide from the strange stallion. He blinked and wondered what was up with everyone, after all it’s not like he had his sword out and was shouting about killing. He’d learned not to do that the hard way a few years back when he got into it with a demon and the entire town thought him a mass murdering psycho. He shook his head and muttered “Hope they aren’t scared of me without any reason.” Then he noticed a figure lying on a cloud ahead of him.
He blinked and stared trying to figure out how someone could lay on a cloud of all things. Weren’t they just water and air molecules combined together? He walked up and used grabbed a crate then stood on top of it to look over the side of the cloud. He raised an eyebrow and said “Huh so she really does have wings. Maybe that’s why the cloud doesn’t just go poof.” The person on the cloud rolled over and stretched out her rainbow colored mane and tail fluttering around her.

She mumbled in her sleep then slowly opened her eyes before letting out a squeal she would swear was a cough. She fell off the cloud and just caught herself above hitting the ground and said “What you, a grim reaper or something?” He raised an eyebrow and lowered his hood revealing his face and dispelling the dark aura. Rainbow blinked and said “What the hay, aren’t you that Jay guy I saved? What’s the big idea disturbing a pony when she’s napping?”

He shrugged and said “I wanted to be sure I saw someone sleeping on a cloud. Also wondered why the heck everyone was so afraid of me.” Rainbow thought about how to explain it to him. After all most ponies were fun loving, kind, etc. However there were exceptions and those exceptions usually guided the herd when something new came out. It didn’t help that with his torn clothes and his cloak pulled up he’d looked like something from nightmare night.

She shook her head to clear it and said “You had a dark aura with your hood up. It was almost like a dark entity was hovering in place. The moment you removed the hood it disappeared though. It’s what scared everypony in town. How do you do that?”
Jay blinked and said “Dark Aura?” Rainbow nodded and he said “Shoot, it’s a part of my cloak’s abilities. I thought the magic woven into it would vanish with the damage done and all, but it appears that just because the cloak is damaged the spells cast on it aren’t gone. Guess I’ll just keep my hood down from now on until I can find a good tailor or seamstress who knows how to add magic to clothing and make it respond to the wearers will.”

Rainbow blinked and said “You knew a tailor like that?” He nodded and she said “No wonder you take magic in strides. Your town must have been full of unicorns then.” He started to shake his head no then quickly nodded realizing that magic here belonged mostly to unicorns unless it was in handling plants and animals or pertained to one’s cutie mark. How did he know that, he’d overheard the nurses talking about special talents and cutie marks when he was half asleep and just took it for a fact. Rainbow stared at him and said “You ok, Jay?”

Jay nodded and said “Yeah, I just need to find a place I can work. Seeing as my old trade was writing I don’t know if I could just do that without having a side job to keep me funded until my books sell.” Rainbow studied him not figuring him for the egghead type and started to voice as much when they both heard a loud gasp. Rainbow slowly turned to see Pinkie Pie, standing there staring at Jay. Jay followed her eyes and said “Hello I’m…” only for her to jump into the air and vanish in a cloud of pink dust.

Rainbow pulled his face toward hers and said “That was Pinkie Pie. She’s probably going to throw you a big surprise party now that she knows you’re in town, or just a welcoming party. You can never tell with that mare.” Jay nodded and sighed then started to walk away only for Rainbow to fly in front of him and ask “Where the hay you going?”
He raised an eyebrow and said “Since I have to worry about a party later, I’m going into the forest to hunt down the bugger that gave me the scars on my face. Then I’m going to kick his ass, beat his little doggies, and finally come back to town with his head on a platter for a hopefully pretty high priced, bounty.”

Rainbow stared at him and said “Yeahhhhhno. You are going to come with me to Rarity’s boutique.” At this she shivered before continuing “And either get your clothes patched up or get some new clothes. If not then I guess you’re going to at least have to talk to Mayor Mare.” He sighed realizing she wasn’t going to just let him go do something that would probably get him killed before taking in the sight of the determined mare. As he’d seen yesterday she was about five and a half feet tall if not taller, had a purplish rose color to them, and her coat was cyan with a darker blue on the edges. She was wearing a jean jacket, a t shirt with a lightning bolt on the stomach, and black boy shorts. She stretched out and Jay noticed her bust was rather average in size. He shook his head to clear it and looked Rainbow in the eye.

She raised an eyebrow and he said “Lead on to Mayor Mare’s then. I might as well get myself signed as a resident of ponyville because there is no way for me to go home.” He left off saying yet, or that there was no point anyway because nothing was waiting for him, but hey you can’t always reveal all your secrets, especially when you’re from another world. Rainbow blinked surprised then grinned realizing she wouldn’t have to deal with Rarity complaining about her mane just yet and led the reluctant stallion to town hall.

Jay walked along behind Rainbow staring at her tail and heard that voice he used to suppress all the time whispering in the back of his mind “You always said you had a thing for tails, well all the girls here have tails.” He shook his head to clear it of such thoughts as they passed the library and he made note of its location. Maybe it would have more on Equestria and its inhabitants.

Rainbow finally stopped at Town Hall and said “Mayor Mare’s right inside. Go talk to her about getting a citizenship, then we could decide what to do next, since I seem to have to keep you in line.” Jay smirked a quick remark on the tip of his tongue but he just let it slide. He walked in and walked up to a desk behind which sat a mare who couldn’t be over thirty. She had a larger chest than rainbow, an off colored tan coat; blue eyes that were behind a pair of glasses placed upon her muzzle, and had a grey mane and tail. She had on a business suit that hugged her curves and a pair of stockings that covered her legs and went up under her skirt.

Jay smiled politely and said “Hello there, I’m looking for Mayor Mare. Do you happen to know where I could possibly find her?”
The mare smiled and said “Yes, I’m her. My actual name is silver scroll, but you can call me mayor if you prefer.”
Jay nodded in thanks and said “I’d like to sign up for citizenship in ponyville, as well as enquire who runs the library.” She blinked surprised anyone would enquire about the library.

After a few seconds she said “The library is currently open for use, but we don’t have a librarian. Of course a strong stallion like you would probably prefer the construction trade, or blacksmithing, or even joining the solar guard. I mean you look like a stud of action rather than one who would like to sit around signing book orders all day.”

Jay laughed and said “You’re right about that, however I was just wondering because I was thinking of using the library to learn more about Equestria, you see I’m from deep in the Everfree and honestly it’s been a bit of a hassle to find a place to stay or anything. If you know anyone who’s hiring I’d really appreciate you letting me know who they are and seeing if I could work for them at least till I can buy a house and pay my medical bills.”

His words surprised the mayor. She was used to out of towners just using the hospital and running if they couldn’t pay. Not that Nurse Redheart complained since she got a stipend from Princess Celestia, but it was rare to see someone who may be very young saying they had debts they wanted to pay off. It was obvious he had no medical knowledge or he’d have asked to work at the hospital. She thought about it then said “Steel heart, the local blacksmith needs some help. I believe he said his son snips just can’t do things the way he needs them done.”

Jay smiled and nodded in thanks then said “I think I’ll be back to apply for citizenship if I get the job, if that’s ok miss Silver Scroll.” Silver Scroll was surprised, it was rare for anyone to call her anything other than Mayor Mare, and she’d gotten used to it. This young man was full of surprises. Maybe it’d be a good thing to have him become part of the town.

She smiled and said “I’ll be waiting Mister…?”

Jay smiled and said “Jay, Jay Wolf. Thanks for the help Mayor. Maybe my guide will be able to lead me to Steel Heart’s smithy.” She nodded and waved farewell as he walked out and the door shut behind him then sighed and thought “If only he were older. He’ll certainly make a fine catch when he’s an adult though. Colts like that are very rare around these parts, especially with the five to one mare to stud ratio.”
Rainbow looked at Jay when he walked out and said “Get your citizenship?” Jay shook his head and she asked “Why the heck not?”

He smiled slightly at the look on Rainbow’s face and said “Because miss Dash, I want to get a job before I become a citizen. So if you can lead me to Steel Heart’s smithy it’d be greatly appreciated.”

Rainbow sighed and said “Sure I can take you there, but afterward you’re on your own. I need to go home and prepare for Pinkie’s Party. Hopefully whoever you meet up with after this can lead you to sugar cube corner, if not just whistle loudly, if you can, and I’ll lead you there.” He walked alongside Rainbow to the smithy and just glanced at her occasionally, noticing she was doing the same to him.

Though she was mainly looking at the scars on his back, which were white furred rather than black like the rest of his coat, she was also looking at his face trying to figure out if he was in pain or not. His face didn’t give it away so she wasn’t sure. He glanced at her and asked “Something wrong?”

Rainbow shook her head and Jay shrugged then the two heard the hound of hammers on metal. He grinned slightly liking the sound already, and remembering forging his own sword. Rainbow saw the look on his face and thought it made him look more attractive, despite the scars on his face. He had a rugged look to him. They walked into the smithy and Jay said loudly “Excuse me, Name’s Jay. Silver Scroll told me you were looking for help.”

Steel Heart looked up from his work and put it into a cooling barrel then said “Who told you I needed help?”

Jay replied “The mayor her name is Silver Scroll.”

Steel Heart nodded in acceptance then said “Alright, you have forging experience?” He nodded and Steel Heart said “Alright I’ll give you a test. Make me a chisel. Shouldn’t be too hard, if I like your work I’ll hire you and pay you for the day, if I don’t you’ll have to find work somewhere else. Deal?”

Jay nodded and said “Deal.” He walked over to the forge and pulled on an apron over his chest not noticing Rainbow stare at his back now that he’d taken off his Duster and shirt revealing just how ripped he was. He picked up a two pound hammer then swung it a few times getting used to the weight. He picked up a bar of iron and used tongs to push it deep into the coals warming it up to the point it was ready to be pounded on.

He started slowing flattening the bar then folding the metal upon itself making it stronger and getting rid of the defects in it before shaping it. Rainbow and Steel Heart watched impressed, Rainbow more impressed with the movement of the stallion’s shoulders, while Stele Heart was focused on his technique. He nodded to himself the longer he watched Jay work the more he liked what he saw.

Eventually, after about an hour, Jay finished. He had taken so long because he wanted to perfect the chisel to the best of his ability. Jay handed the now cooled chisel to Steel Heart who tested it. He nodded after a few tests then said “You’re hired. You have good technique and a strong grip. I’ll pay you for the rest of the day whether you work or not, and then you can start tomorrow. However we’re closing up early to go to one of Pinkie Pie’s party with the family. It starts at six.”

Jay smiled and said “Thanks. I think for today I’ll just take my pay and head over to the hospital then go to the library a while.” He took off the apron and put on his shirt and cloak/duster, causing Rainbow to let out a soft sigh she hoped no one heard then watched as Steel Heart threw him a small bag of bits. He counted the bits and whistled appreciatively when he realized it contained a solid twenty for half an hour’s work then headed out with Rainbow promising to be in early tomorrow.

The two headed back toward town hall chatting along the way and finally Rainbow asked “So why are you so interested in Equestria, you’re not a spy are you?”

Jay snorted and said “Hardly, I just want to know about the land I’ll be living in from now on. I also want to learn more about Ponyville, after all this is where I plan to make my home base.”

Rainbow blinked and said “Ah.” Then flew off knowing Jay was fine by himself. Jay watched her go and shrugged then walked toward Town Hall at a slightly more sedate pace, finding his mind wandering to Rainbow and what kind of person she was. She’d saved his tail from the demons, but that didn’t mean she was a good girl, just meant she didn’t know who was the bad guy between him and the demons.

He sighed and shook his head saying “I’m much too cynical.” He walked into town hall and started filling out the paperwork for citizenship in ponyville. That took him another half hour leaving him three hours before the party, three hours in which he planned on studying as much as he could. He smiled at Silver Scroll and said “Thanks Mayor Silver Scroll. I’ll see you around, and in case you’re wondering I’m actually older than I look.” He turned and headed out the door chuckling to himself at the look on the older mare’s face.

He walked to the library then started browsing the shelves till he found a few books that looked interesting and started reading. He read for hours, and only looked up when someone walked into the library. He blinked when he saw Rainbow Dash. He raised an eyebrow and she said “You realize you’re about to miss your party?” He stared at her and she pointed at a clock on the wall. He followed her finger and swore putting up the books then motioned for her to lead on. Rainbow studied him and said “You don’t seem the type to go to parties often.”

Jay replied “I’m not. However I feel like I owe it to you for saving me to attend. After this I don’t owe you though.” Rainbow snorted and they walked to Sugarcube corner. He stared as they walked up to a giant cupcake and said “I should have known. Nothing has been normal since I got here. So, this is where your friend Pinkie Pie ran off to?” Rainbow nodded and he sighed then said “Let’s get this over with.”

Rainbow and Jay walked in only for everyone to burst out shouting “SURPRISE!” Jay instinctively reached toward his back where he normally kept his sword unobtrusively then lowered his hand. He smiled politely and Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared then said “Hi I’m Pinkie Pie; you must be new here because I know every pony in ponyville and I’ve never seen you before. So I know you’re new. Then when I saw you with Dashie I decided I had to throw you a party. So here we are at your party. Were you surprised, were ya, were ya, were ya?”

Jay nodded and said “Very surprised. I knew someone was throwing me a party but I didn’t think it would involve the whole town. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go mingle, you and Rainbow have fun.” He walked off into the crowd while Rainbow stood there joking around with Pinkie Pie. They noticed him conversing with Bon-bon, then with Vinyl, then Octavia though the mare seemed to be unimpressed by the stallion, who seemed cool with that.

The two talked of classical music and then Tavi, as vinyl called her, seemed to really get into it when he said he knew how to play the violin. They talked more but they’d gone too far for Rainbow or Pinkie to overhear them then suddenly someone ran into Jay.
He just laughed and helped them to their feet before dusting them off. He smiled and said “Howdy, name’s Jay, and you are?” The mare that ran into him had gray fur, a blonde mane and tale, a bubble butt, and was cross eyed. He noticed she looked down and rubbed her shoulder then said “Hey no worries, I’m not mad or anything accidents happen, now why don’t you introduce yourself so we can get to know each other?”

She smiled and said “My name’s Ditsy Doo, but everyone calls me Derpy. Please don’t call me that. I don’t really like it but I can’t tell that to anyone because I feel like they deserve it because I’m always causing everyone trouble.”

Jay snorted and said “I’d never call you Derpy. I know what it’s like to mess up a lot and have people mad at you for it. However you just have to slog through it and fix things to the best of your ability. Anyway have fun Ditsy.” She smiled and watched him promising herself she’d do him proud though she did wonder how old he was the scars kind of hid his age making him looker younger than a few studs like big mac, but he was definitely taller than the fillies and colts in the area.

After a few hours the party wound down and Vinyl invited Jay to stay with her and Tavi. Jay accepted and said he’d meet them back at the entrance to Sugarcube Corner in about ten to twenty minutes then vanished toward the hospital.

Author's Note

Well that was interesting. We see people wondering more about Jay and finding out a bit about him. Also yes I realize Steel Heart should know the mayor's name but he was testing Jay. Anyway hope you enjoyed.

Chapter 3: Canterlot oh Canterlot and meeting the apples.

It had been about three to six weeks since Jay had started working at Steel Heart’s and he’d managed to actually pay off his debt, and start saving up to buy a house, while also managing to pay rent to Octavia and Vinyl who tried to wave it off. He wouldn’t take no for an answer and finally they agreed. He was getting a rhythm built up, but he decided he needed to make a sword and go into the Everfree. Today was his day off but Steel Heart had told him he could use the forge to make something for himself as long as he was careful. After all, the forge was his livelihood.

Jay slowly started forging his sword. He was using two different types of metals. One was carbon steel, the other iron. He was forging them together to make a stronger blade. He knew it would work, it just required melding the two metals at the right temperature. Steel Heart watched as Jay heated the two bars of metal until they were both nearly liquefied the started pounding them together and straightening them out. After a little while Steel Heart stopped watching and got back to work on his latest project.

Jay pounded away for the rest of the day straightening, expanding and lengthening the two metals until finally he cooled them in a barrel of olive oil. Olive oil is used by smiths for things that are used to cut such as swords or other softer metal items. Jay pulled it out and took it to a grinding stone then started grinding an edge onto the blade which was almost a tall as he was and about as thick as his arm. He sheathed the sword in his old scabbard which was hidden under his cloak and nodded to Steel Heart as he walked back to his current residence.

Jay walked into his current residence, the home of Ponyville’s own DJ Pon3 aka Vinyl Scratch and their Classical Artist Octavia aka Tavi to her roommates. Jay blinked when he saw Vinyl washing the dishes with Wubs, again, and Tavi sitting on the couch sipping tea. The moment he entered however they turned off the music and stared at him. He smiled politely and said “Evening ladies.”
He sweated a little bit as he noticed them watching him carefully and asked “I do something wrong? Leave the toilet seat up? Break an instrument or record? Something, If not what’s with the stares?”

Vinyl raised her glasses showing her Cerise eyes and said “No you’ve been a great roommate bro; it’s just, you seem to be getting no sleep.” Jay blinked and stared at her. She smiled and said “Seriously, you pay rent, you don’t leave the toilet seat up, you don’t break our stuff, and you don’t cause trouble. We couldn’t ask for a better roommate, even if we wish you’d trust us a little bit more. Isn’t that right Tavi?”

Octavia growled and said “It’s Octavia, Vinyl. However she is right Jay. The only thing more we could ask of you is to trust us. We’re just worried about your health. You haven’t slept in a fortnight.” Jay winced knowing she was right however he held his head up high and she continued “We’re also worried about your trip to the Everfree. Even if you take a weapon, you act as if you don’t expect to come back. I understand how many ponies see the place, but you should be above such superstition. Also, we were wondering if you’d like to go with us to Canterlot when you get back.”

The last part said so softly and quickly Jay thought he’d misheard so he asked “Wha?” Octavia sighed but was saved from having to answer and repeat herself by Vinyl whistling a tune under her breath. He looked at Vinyl and said “Yes?”

Vinyl replied “We were wondering if you’d go with us to Canterlot. Not now mind you, but when you get back. We’ve both got shows we’re doing and we’d like you to attend, unless you’d rather stay and watch the house. We would understand either way.” Jay thought about it for a while. On the one hand he could stay here and take more treks into the Everfree, on the other however he could go watch two mares he’d become very close to perform and see what their lives were like before he intruded.

He smiled and said “Can I think about it?” They nodded and he yawned loudly then said “Alright well I have the next few days off so I’m going to go pass out. Later.” They waved and watched him go then looked back and forth between each other.
Vinyl finally said “If he would open up he’d probably be the perfect colt friend. Especially since like us he loves music, he treats us with respect, and he embodies good things about stallions rather tha horrible. Don’t you think so Tavi?”

Octavia sighed and said “Sadly, I agree completely Vinyl normally I’d find a flaw in your statement, but so far Jay has proven himself to be a complete gentleman. When you aren’t using wubs to wash the dishes, he is washing them by hand. When we get into fights he steps in and mediates. Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew we once tried filly fooling together, but he still probably wouldn’t judge us. Just what kind of stallion is Jay Wolf though? His secrets are so well hidden you can’t find out about them from anyone, then there’s the fact he has those scars. They make him look dashing, but at the same time they speak of a hard life. So yes I agree with you Vinyl, but at the same time I fear what he’s hiding too much to ask him to explain.”

Vinyl blinked surprised then said “I understand Tavi. However if we don’t learn more about him we can’t really consider ourselves his true friends. I mean he’s told us a lot about his old home, but he hasn’t mentioned anything about his life. Ah well, guess we should probably call it a night.” Octavia nodded and the two went to their own rooms to crash for the night both thinking about what influence Jay’s past could have on how they saw him.

The following morning Jay left before the other two were up having after having a simple bowl of cereal. He checked his blade in its scabbard noticing it was a bit tight, which wasn’t surprising since it wasn’t designed for this blade. He checked his pocket knife in his right front pocket and then pulled his wallet, which was cloth, out of his back pocket and checked it for anything he could use to start a fire. He saw all his old papers that he kept on him and nodded to himself then put his wallet away and continued walking.

He found himself at the edge of the Everfree and slowly drew his sword the steel rasping on the leather as he pulled it out. He started slipping through the trees quietly extending his senses to find any trouble. After about an hour of not sensing anything, he went further into the forest. He walked through the forest moving quickly from tree to tree his dark clothing blending in with the dark atmosphere. After about two to four hours he came upon a castle. He stared at it and said “Well if I was a demon I’d definitely use a place like this for a base, unless it’s got a ward against the beasts.” He walked toward the castle slowly, climbing down one side of the cliffs and up the other his sword back in its scabbard and his knife in his teeth.

When he finally got to the out of the valley on the side of it which sat the Castle, he walked in and blinked as he saw an image of two ponies. One was embossed over a sun, the other over a moon. They were both elegant looking, though the taller of the two was the one on the sun who looked a bit more regal. He snorted as he walked past the tapestries the images were embossed upon. He walked throughout the first room searching for any demonic taint.

He sighed to himself after sensing no such taint and said “Well I finally found a place demons can’t invade. Amazing, seeing as the surrounding forest is tainted beyond belief. It feels like a mix of demon and earth magic mixed with the natural magic of this land to form a forest that was somewhat twisted, but no ponies could truly control. He silently wondered if magic was the reason the forest existed or someone took the time to hand grow the plants and what not.

He sighed as he walked throughout the library humming to himself now that he could feel the aura of the place. Though long abandoned it had a lighter aura almost like a mix between sun and moon. He shook his head and muttered “I’d like to say a place can’t have an aura, but that would be dead wrong probably. After all I don’t know the rules of this, place, if it is another world, and if it’s just the future who knows how much earth has changed. Demon portal are tricky like that.” He walked until he came upon the library then grinned and started reading.

He ate his travel rations as he read, drank from the canteen he’d brought hidden in his cloak, and finally when darkness was over the land and he couldn’t read any more he fell asleep wrapped in said cloak. The following morning he went back to reading. He figured he’d spend the rest of today here then head back to Ponyville on the morrow. Maybe something exciting would happen in that time and he would have a decision for Tavi and Vinyl.

He didn’t know why but he really didn’t want to see those two sad. Maybe it was just because they’d housed him for the last two month or so, maybe it was because he saw them as friends, he wasn’t sure, he just knew seeing either one of them sad would cause him to be depressed as well. He sighed and muttered “Damn it I’m whipped,” as he finished reading the latest book which was on mythology of this world, which amusingly enough made the creatures from his own world the mythology rather than unicorns, Pegasi, and alicorns.

Jay shook his head and said “Well that’s enough reading, I think it’s about time I explored some more.” He wandered throughout the ruins for the rest of the day, since he’d stopped just after noon, and at dusk he rolled up to go to sleep deciding he’d leave at dawn. He fell asleep dreaming of his own world, and what he’d left behind.

Jay woke up in a cold sweat his dreams having taken a dark turn as he found himself killing his friends one by one. It was like he was the demon’s he was fighting, and their deaths were his fault. Sadly he agreed with the latter part of that believing if he’d been a little stronger, smarter, and in some cases faster, he’d have been able to save almost everyone. Given the chance he’d go back and change things, as it were though, he couldn’t so he tried to stop worrying about it. He got to his feet pulling his hood up and obscuring himself in shadows then walked to the entrance of the castle.

Outside were two dark hounds sniffing around and looking for prey. He slid behind the first quietly and slit it’s throat with his knife before throwing the knife into the eye of the second and by luck or skill, managed to pierce it’s brain. He grinned and walked over to retrieve his knife. As he laid his hand on the weapon and the dark hound dispersed he was bitch slapped into the ravine by the demon he’d escaped. As he fell the demon said “I see you survived, too bad. I was hoping we had one less human to deal with, but ah well my brethren should have dealt with your world. I hope you enjoy your fall.”

Jay slammed into a river back first and coughed up a thin stream of blood thinking he broke something. However he’d only been injured slightly and the blood was from the slap rather than the fall. However the fall had locked up his joints as his brain tried to make sense of falling over a hundred feet into a deep river and surviving the trauma of hitting the surface. He sank down about halfway then swam up and over to the side breathing heavily.

He climbed out of the water and up the cliff slowly wincing with each movement, feeling as if his body was breaking. He muttered as he climbed “You know what I need to stop asking for excitement. I really do. I also need to learn to keep my guard up. I mean that bastard just bitch slapped me into a river because I was caught off guard. First of all who does that? Second why didn’t I sense him before he approached, was it the taint in the air? You know what doesn’t’ matter, all that matters is getting to the damn top and getting home. I’ll tell Vinyl and Tavi that sure I’ll go to Canterlot with them. Got to be more I can learn about this world anyway.”

He started back for ponyville, coughing a bit as he walked, then he stopped as he heard a sound. He followed it as it got louder until he could make out it was someone calling for help. He raced toward it drawing his sword again. He jumped into a clearing slamming his blade down into the head of a timberwolf. Timberwolves were wolves made out of wood. It crumbled to pieces and he drew his blade out then sliced off the head of yet another timberwolf charging at a girl with a red mane and tail and a bow in her mane. He jumped in the way as a third went to slash out her throat and it reopened the wounds on his back.

He growled and turned cutting the wolf in half, noticing his blade was getting dull, and turned to the last two. They howled for reinforcements and a large group of wolves showed up. One of them was an alpha. It was basically the combination of the wood of three or four Timberwolves into one larger wolf. He swore as he counted twenty wolves where before there were two and three broken. He growled and again thinking “I need an axe.” He started kicking and smashing the wolves apart occasionally slicing them with his sword, and even stabbing a few with hi knife.

He turned to the girl and said “Stay behind me.” Her olive skin tone was pale at the sight of all the wolves and her eyes were wide open. She nodded quickly and ducked as a wolf jumped over her lunging at the stallion. He kicked it in the face shattering its jaw only for another to latch onto his sword arm. He swore and swung it into a tree where it shattered leaving him with only half the wolves to fight. He charged at the alpha and started hacking and slashing at it, thinking “If you’re taking me down I’m taking you with me, and the girl is at least getting out of here.”

A part of him wondered why he bothered, after all he didn’t know the girl, and it wasn’t like he was facing demons. These were natural creatures of this world, and he was interfering with the circle of life. Ah well too bad for them that the circle of life meant nothing to him. He finally killed the alpha and fell to his knees, the remaining nine wolves snarling and growling at him. He turned to the girl and said “Run. Don’t look back, don’t turn around. Just run. Don’t hesitate.”

The girl looked at him and said “But mister,” He growled in response and she slowly nodded and turned booking it. She ran and ran, feeling like her legs were starting to get on fire as she came to the border of sweet apple acres where she saw her siblings. She ran up to her older brother and said “You gotta save ‘im big mac. You just gotta. It’s all my fault that he’s in there hurt and he told me to run and he’s fighting them all by himself. I was playing on a log and it rolled into the Everfree then I got attacked by Timberwolves then he came and saved me.”

Big Macintosh looked at Applejack who nodded and the both rushed in the direction Applebloom came from. Meanwhile Jay was using his sword to lash out at any of the Timberwolves that tried to bite him. He was running low on energy though, and he could feel the blood flowing down his back at a rapid pace. He growled out “Come and get some you ugly bastardos I may make a meal for you yet, but that doesn’t mean I won’t take as many of you as I can with me.”

He felt woozy and resisted the urge to faint as a pair of ponies came out of the brush and slammed into a wolf going for his back. The one on his left was a mare with orange colored fur, a blonde mane in a ponytail, and a blonde tail held the same way. She was also wearing a Stetson, had on a tied up t shirt which was checkered, and jean short. The pony on his right was about six and a half feet tall, had dark red fur, and green eyes. He was wearing a plaid shirt and jeans with a rip in the knee that looked worn out. They landed back to back with Jay and started thrashing the wolves.

After about five minutes the Timberwolves gave up since it was unlikely they could bring down two full grown ponies in perfect shape and one weakened pony with a blade. Jay sheathed his blade on his back then put his knife in his belt loop and passed out saying “Thanks, hope the girl’s alright.”

For the second time in Jay forgot how long he woke up in a different place than where he passed out. He was in a farmhouse, he could tell by the wood paneling and the décor. He sighed then winced as his back twinged in pain from the inhalation following the sigh. He heard the sound of approaching hoof steps, he’d learned to stop thinking of them as footsteps when he was at Vinyl and Tavi’s, and waited for whoever was approaching to make an appearance. Suddenly the door to the room opened and a olive head with gamboge eyes and a bow stuck into the room.

He nodded at the filly and said “Looks like you got away like I told you. Thanks for sending whoever it was to help. If you sent them, that is. If not well at least you got away without even a scratch. I’d have bloody well ripped myself apart trying to get you to a healer if that’s what it took. I refuse to let a child be harmed if I can help it.”

The filly smiled slightly as he spoke then gasped and said “Yeah, I got ya help. My big brother and big sister came running right after I told them about yawl helping me. Thanks by the way. Mah name’s Applebloom, and who are you mister?”

Jay chuckled and said “Name’s Jay wolf. I have to ask, what was a filly like you doing in the Everfree all alone? I could understand if it had been the mare or stud that had helped me out who was in there, but you are just a little thing and in all honesty I can’t see you entering there all by your lonesome.” Applebloom blinked and wondered whether to be offended or just curious about why he thought Applejack or Big Mac would have been in the Everfree. No one entered the Everfree for no reason.
Applebloom looked at Jay and asked “Why were ya in the Everfree?” Jay blinked taken aback by her statement. He started to respond when he felt a pain in his ribs and had to grab them to hold back a yell. He closed his eyes breathing through his nose and wondering how to make the pain go away without yelling or expressing it in some other way.

Finally it passed and he responded “I was in the Everfree to get away from everything. I know it’s not the most peaceful place but it reminds me of home. Well it reminds me of the place I called home when I was a teenager, since I didn’t really feel I had one as a child.” Applebloom blinked and he continued “Don’t worry about it kiddo.” She glared and he chuckled then said “So on the matter of home, guessing this is the only one you’ve ever known?”

The young teen nodded and said “Yeah. I grew up on the farm with Applejack, Granny, and Big Mac. I don’t really remember mah parents.” Jay winced at that and silently swore he’d protect this little one’s loved ones so she didn’t lose anyone else. He watched her as she continued “But enough about all that, you’re probably hungry am ah right?” Jay nodded and she handed him an apple turnover. He took and devoured it ravenously feeling his body healing quicker with food in his system. It was how his body worked, feed him and he’ll heal two or three times as fast.

Suddenly there was the sound of rushing hoof steps and someone said “There ya are Applebloom. I was worried when I couldn’t find you outside. What are ya doing in here?” Jay looked up and blinked finding himself staring at a beautiful farm girl. He blinked and wondered why that was his first thought. He shook his head and raised an eyebrow as the pony in question turned to him and said “Ahm mighty glad you’re alright shug. We were worried when we saw the blood on your back. I’m Applejack and you are?”

Jay shrugged his shoulders and said “Jay wolf. It’s a pleasure. I’d like to thank you for saving my tail back there. I couldn’t have made it by myself.” She just brushed it off and he sighed wondering why ponies were so nice. Even after living here a few months he couldn’t exactly understand how their minds worked. He was to use to being human. He just couldn’t convince himself there was no ulterior motive. He knew there was such a thing as unrequited kindness, but he’d never been on the receiving end. He shook his head and said “So what do I owe you for saving my life?”

Applejack just stared at him like he was nuts and said “Yah saved Applebloom didn’t ya? That means the apple family is in your debt. And mah family always pays our debt. Saving you was just the beginning.” Jay raised an eyebrow thinking “Riiiiiiiiight.” Applejack must have seen the look in his eyes and said “Ahm serious partner. We owe yah. We don’t know what we’d have done if you weren’t there when you were. Anyway Granny said soon as your ribs are healed you’re allowed to leave. So till then just relax and let us take care of yah.”

Jay just nodded then sighed and laid back as his body just released all the tension it had locked in it. He stretched his arms out hearing satisfying pops along his joints and feeling them loosen up then yawned and closed his eyes. Applejack watched him to make sure he wasn’t going to run away or anything then walked off with Applebloom to do their chores.

Jay fell asleep and found himself standing in darkness. He heard a voice calling out and walked toward it, feeling a kinship to the loneliness the voice held. As he approached he found himself facing a gilded cage. Inside was a girl, with a horn, like him, but she also had wings. She was calling out for her sister and apologizing. He sighed and walked through the bars of the cage knowing this was just a dream and wrapped his arms around the girl stroking her mane and shushing her. She looked up at him and he said “It’s alright. I’m here for you.”

She looked at him and asked in a sweet voice “Did Tia send you?” Jay shook his head and she sighed then asked “Did someone send you to get rid of me?” Again he shook his head noticing for a little girl she was rather cynical and wondering why. She studied him and asked “Who are you then?”

He replied “Jay Wolf at your service.” Her eyes widened at his name and she hugged him tightly muttering about him coming back. He couldn’t really understand so he wondered what she meant. He stroked her mane gently rather than worrying about it and felt slightly more complete, just like when he was around Vinyl and Tavi, or how he felt when he saw Applejack. He wondered if there was more to this world than he knew about. He also had a niggling feeling in the back of his mind that the name Applejack was familiar.

She looked up into his eyes and said “Thank you for coming to talk to me. No one’s been able to get past her in forever.” He raised an eyebrow and she explained “Nightmare moon. Anyone tries to visit me has to go through her usually and she refuses to let them past.”
Jay just stared at her and said “I saw nopony but you.” She giggled at that thinking he was kidding or being nice and he just let her believe that. He felt himself waking up and said “I have to go. I’ll eventually come back, and one day I’ll free you. I promise, and I try not to break my promises especially to pretty girls.” She giggled again and he hugged her tight as he started to disappear.

He found himself standing in darkness after vanishing from the girl’s cage and he said softly “Where am I?” He looked down at his hands and saw they were human again. He touched his forehead and felt no horn, and then he touched the rest of his face and lifted up his shirt seeing his scars from equestria were gone. He shrugged and said “Well this is different.” Suddenly his old friend Zero walked up.

He stared as Zero lowered his hood revealing his slightly bearded face, his long curly black hair, his brown eyes, and his pale skin. He pulled his pistols off his hip and shot them into the darkness then said “Hey Jake.” Jay winced at that name and started to say that’s not who he was anymore, but Zero just shook his head and said “You took Wolf’s name to run away from yourself. You can’t anymore. You have to start letting people in again or you’re trust will shatter completely. When that happens everything will fall to darkness.”
Jay no Jake stared at him and said “So I have to go back to being Jake Shadows. I guess I knew this day would come. However why am I human again? Where are we? How are you alive? What’s going on?” Zero smiled sadly raising his sunglasses to his face and hiding his eyes.

He sighed and said “In order, you’re only human because that’s how you still see yourself. We are in limbo; you’re actually floating between life and death. I’m not alive I’m an echo of Zero though you know my real name. As for what’s going on, I’m just here to be the first to remind you of the past. You need to find the princess of the sun and tell her your story then see what happened to your home. Then you can decide what you’ll do, if you’ll run and hide in the shadows, or if you’ll embrace the light. Anyway you’re waking up so we probably won’t speak again, unless you embrace the right path. See ya Jake.” Then everything faded away.

Jay woke up and saw the sun was rising. He undid the bindings around his waist and saw his wounds had healed, though the scars on his back were now red rather than white. At least from what he could see over his shoulder. He got up and stretched then started for the door, not noticing his pants were hanging over the side of the bed and his other clothing was on the back of a chair. He walked downstairs in only a pair of boxers and started for the door. Applebloom who was sitting in the kitchen said “Woah.” He stopped and looked at her questioningly. She said “Yah kind of forgot your clothes....” He swore and walked back upstairs then got dressed before coming back down.

He started for the door only for Granny Smith to step in his way and said “Now sonny, you need to rest up.” Jay shook his head, and she continued “At least eat before you leave sonny.” He sighed and nodded then walked into the kitchen where Granny cooked up some food before handing him a plate. He dug in savoring it since he hadn’t eaten anything except for a fritter and energy bars in days.

Jay finished eating as Applejack and Big Mac walked in. He smiled politely and said “I’m off,” to Granny then turned to the other two and said “Ever need help on the farm stop by Vinyl Scratch’s place and ask for me.” They nodded and he headed home whistling a jaunty tune and feeling much better despite the dreams he had. He realized he’d never asked the filly for her name, and swore to himself as he continued walking. He finally got home about ten minutes later and knocked on the door.
Vinyl answered it and hugged Jay when she saw him. He smiled then winced as she punched him in the arm. She asked “Where the hay were you? We were worried sick. We thought maybe you’d gotten hurt or had died. You don’t know how much of a fit Tavi’s going to have when she sees your home.” Jay started to ask why when she hugged him again nuzzling his neck and said “Please don’t worry us like that again.”

He wrapped his arms around her back and said “I’m sorry Vinyl. I didn’t mean to worry you, though I have things to tell you and Tavi after our trip to Canterlot.” Vinyl stared at him and he said “It’s about my past. I don’t know if you’ll want me here afterward but you deserve to know.” She nodded and the two walked inside where Jay was tackled by Tavi.

He blinked and said “Hey Tavi.” She glared at him through red rimmed eyes and he stroked her mane saying “You know for a big strong concert earth pony you’re kind of soft.” She smacked him causing his face to hurt and he said “I get it stop with the jokes. Though I didn’t mean you were soft as in fat, I meant soft as in gentle and kind.” She blushed and he chuckled then said “Sorry, just your blush is nice. So when do we head to Canterlot.”

Octavia smiled and said “We leave in the morning, I got you a ticket, but I didn’t think you’d be back so soon so we figured we’d have to leave you a key to the house. Since you’re here that means we can take you with us, and the ticket doesn’t go to waste.” He nodded and the two of them got up then Vinyl glomped them both and they fell to the floor again. Jay tapped his fingers on the floor thinking “So, these two are close to me. I didn’t notice how close until today. I can’t believe I’ve been so oblivious. What’s been going on in my head? Who knows I guess. I just know I can’t see them with red eyes ever again, they don’t deserve to cry especially over a guy like me.”
He shook his head and said “I’m going to make dinner, you two want anything special?” Vinyl thought about it, while Tavi just stared at him as if he was mad. He raised an eyebrow and asked “Afraid I’m going to vanish if I leave your sight?” Tavi nodded slightly sheepishly and he laughed then said “Don’t worry Tavi you can watch me cook. I have no problem with it.” She smiled in thanks and the two walked into the kitchen while Vinyl went back to her room to prepare for her performance in Canterlot.

Jay grabbed some vegetables out of the fridge and pantry then started making a vegetable stew as Octavia sat at the kitchen table and watched him work. She smiled to herself as she saw him seeming to be in good shape. What she didn’t know was that Jay’s body was starting to hurt. It wasn’t a lot of pain, but it was enough. He finished cutting up the veggies and put them in the pot to simmer then sat at the table and laid his head down.

Tavi poked his cheek and he mumbled waving her off. She poked him again and said “Jay, are you doing alright?” He nodded into the table and she said “I have to say I’m kind of doubtful of that. You seem, off.” He snorted and looked at her raising an eyebrow. She explained “You seem like you’re either in pain or half asleep. Which is it?”
Jay winced slightly at the accusation and said “Neither.” Octavia snorted and he said “Seriously Tavi it’s neither. I’m fine.” She just stared him down and he said “Alright so maybe I’m a little tired, and in a little pain. It’s just from working too hard.” She sighed and shook her head with a look on her face that just screamed ‘What am I going to with you?’

As the food cooked Octavia looked at Jay and said “Why do you insist on calling me Tavi. Vinyl does it because we’ve been friends a long time, but you don’t have any reason to yet you call me it anyway.” He shrugged and sat down across from her letting the stew simmer. She studied him and asked “What makes you stay? You’ve saved up enough to move into your own house, yet you continue to stay with me and Vinyl. Why?”

He thought about it and said “To answer your first question. I started calling you Tavi cause you’re cute when you’re mad. However when you got used to it and smiled it made my heart sing so I decided I liked the name and stuck with it, Tavi.” She smiled prettily and he continued “As for why I stayed, I have nowhere else to go and I care about you too much to leave you and Vinyl on your own I don’t think you two would survive. Especially since I’m the one who does most of the cooking and pays for the house with my rent, even if Vinyl is a well-known DJ and you are a cellist.”

She smiled glad he knew her job, even if he always called it a big hunk of wood. Eventually they started a conversation about the last few weeks. Vinyl came downstairs and joined in the three of them laughing at a few things, and shaking their heads at others. The two mares found the more they talked to Jay the less they cared about what his past might hold. After a while the food was done and Jay dished out three bowls. They ate in contented silence.

After they finished they all went to their rooms to rest up since they had to be at the station early the next day. As they each fell asleep they were thinking about the others they lived with. In Jay’s case it was Tavi and Vinyl, in vinyl’s case it was Jay, same for Tavi. They couldn’t get him off their mind, and wondered what had happened to change him so much in such a short time. He had never been so close to them before. Yet today he was acting like he returned their possible feelings for him.

They all fell asleep wondering what the morrow would bring. The following morning they got up early and each had a bowl of oatmeal, made by Vinyl. They ate quickly and headed to the train station the two mares talking about the sites to see in Canterlot and Jay just nodding his head. He could care less about Canterlot, other than the royal library. He had plans to sneak in and read as much as possible before meeting up with the girls for their shows. They sat at the back compartment of the train, near the luggage, and the two mares chatted while Jay enjoyed the scenery passing by occasionally giving a noncommittal answer.

Eventually the train pulled into Canterlot station and the three disembarked. Jay took in a deep breath of air and released it tasting the magic then said “Oh Canterlot, Oh Canterlot, how different thou art from fair Ponyville.” Vinyl laughed while Tavi just sighed and the three went their separate ways agreeing to meet up at the hotel. As Jay walked away he thought about his plan to break into the library, and then decided he may as well check out Celestia’s office while he was at it. Not like she’d know what he was planning. Boy was he in for a surprise.

Author's Note

Well here's chapter 3. I hope people enjoy and I'll see you next update.

Chapter 4: Telling Celestia Jay’s Tale, A Concert, A Club, and Telling the truth to Vinyl and Tavi.

Jay walked along the outside of Canterlot Castle. It had taken him two hours to find a way up, and then it had taken another half hour to build his courage to assault the walls of the castle in his own way. He slipped in through a window and explored the halls of the castle ducking into alcoves, hiding behind suits of armor, etc. He finally managed to slip into the royal library and grinned.

He blinked as he heard the sound of hoof steps approaching and hid behind a shelf. He watched as a lavender unicorn with a magenta streak in her mane and tail walked into his sight. She was talking to herself, and the dragon following along behind her. He thought about approaching her when he heard her say “Princess Celestia said it would be in the history archives. I know she wouldn’t lie to me but we’ve been looking all day and I haven’t seen anything that even looks like a book on Equestria from five hundred years ago. I know she said the title was a treatise of Equestrian History, but I don’t know what it looks like.”

He snickered under his breath then turned to walk away coming face to face with the book she was looking for. He sighed and wondered why he had to be such a nice guy then grabbed it and walked out coughing to get the mare’s attention. She turned to him and he took her in. She was about five and a half feet tall, had purple eyes, and was wearing a skirt and blouse that were purple and blue respectively. He smiled politely and held up the book asking “This what you were looking for?” She eeped, and jumped back a foot knocking over her dragon companion. Jay sighed and asked “I’m not that scary am I?”

The mare shook her head and held her hand out for the book. He handed it over without a fuss and she studied it then squealed in joy. He held his ears at the squeal and asked “What you were here for I’m guessing.” She nodded browsing through the book and he looked at the dragon, who was watching him warily then asked “She always this excited over musty old book?” The dragon nodded and he sighed in response. He glanced at Twilight and reached out to gently cover her mouth saying “Easy girl, easy. I get you’re excited but that doesn’t mean you have to squeal.”

She blushed prettily and he smiled slightly. She looked at him and asked “Why are you in the royal library?” He shrugged in response and stretched then glanced at Spike who was watching him warily. It was almost as if Spike could feel the alpha male rolling off him. She coughed into her hand to get their attention and asked “Is there anything I can do to help you since you found the book I was looking for?” Jay thought about it while Spike shook his head from behind the stallion’s back.

He finally nodded and said “Yeah, can you point me to Equestrian Law? This is my first time in the library and I found your book purely by luck.” Twilight nodded and pointed off which he followed her finger to a large wall with a sign that read “Judicial Documents.” He smiled in thanks then said “My name’s Jay by the way, and might I have the pleasure of learning your name?”
She nodded and said shyly “Twilight Sparkle.”

He smiled and said “What a beautiful name.” Twilight blushed again and he leaned down staring into her eyes. She looked up at him questioningly and he asked “Has anyone ever told you, you have beautiful eyes?” She blinked and shook her head. He snorted and said “Their loss, because your eyes are very beautiful. I can also say that you’re beautiful despite being a little pale from a lack of sunlight. Would you be so kind as to walk with me to the royal gardens?”

She blinked surprised and asked “Why?” She wanted to immediately deny his request but her curiosity wouldn’t allow her to do so. Here was a stallion that knew nothing about her yet said he found her attractive. Most of them would be all over her because she was Celestia’s prized pupil, yet he was just treating her like an average mare he found attractive. She asked “Um, do you know who I am?” Jay shook his head at her question and she elaborated, “So you didn’t know I was Celestia’s prize pupil?” Again Jay shook his head looking slightly surprised. She smiled and said “Then yes I’ll walk in the gardens with you.”

He smiled and said “Awesome. Would you mind leading the way? This is my first time in the palace, and I’m not really sure if I’m allowed to be here or not since I’m not petitioning Celestia.” She nodded and led him out of the library carrying the book in her arms. He walked alongside her and asked “So what’s it like being the pupil to the ruler of Equestria? Is it hard? Do you enjoy it? Does it cause you any kind of trouble?”

Twilight blinked surprised he was so curious about her. She thought about it then said “I guess I’d say it’s fulfilling.” Jay motioned for her to go on as they continued to walk. She thought a little about her life as Celestia’s student and continued “It’s a little hard because people like to try and use me to get to the princess.” Jay nodded in understanding at that knowing what it was like to be connected to a leader in some way and how you were always just a way to get in their good graces. It had been the same way among the slayers when Hunter had bound them all together. They’d constantly harassed him about Hunter after he disappeared since the twenty something year old, had been both a father and brother figure to him at times.

He sighed as he thought back and said “I know what that’s like. In my home town, the group I was a part of constantly badgered me trying to find out where the leader of our group was because we were close. Then one day it just stopped because I had enough. I’m not saying you should scream or anything like that, but if you tell people they can’t use you to get to Celestia some will back off. The rest just let her know about and she’ll probably cover for you.”

Twilight blinked surprised having never thought about just asking Celestia to get them to stop. She wondered if it was a cop out, but realized that if she didn’t do something then it was going to blow up in her face when she had enough like had happened to Jay. She smiled and said “Thanks for the advice. If it weren’t for Spike, my faithful assistant here, I don’t know what I’d do.”

Jay grinned and said “Speaking of Spike, is he from Spirus?” Twilight looked at him confusedly and he explained “Spirus is a country far to the south of Equestria run by Purple dragons and those who’s coat resemble the gems all Dragons eat. They have a peace treaty with Equestria and the other species of our world. They aren’t like most dragons, they’re rather protective of their own and don’t let their young go out without at least an adolescent watching over them. That’s why I ask, because if Spike is from Spirus I’m surprised you’re the only one taking care of him.”

Twilight blinked and said “No, Spike isn’t from Spirus, unless his egg is. I hatched him for my test to be accepted into Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. It’s how I became her protégé. I think I’ll have to read up more on foreign countries, because I’d never heard of Spirus until you mentioned it. Where’d you read about it?”

Jay grinned and said “A library deep in the forest near my current home town.” He blinked as he realized they were out in the gardens and said “Huh, looks like we’re in the royal gardens. Time sure flies when you’re having an interesting conversation with a intelligent companion.” He turned to Spike and asked “Were you falling asleep on us Spike? If so, sorry I didn’t mean to bore you. I was just curious about Twilight. How about you tell me a bit about yourself? After all it’s not right for me to only ask about one of you when I’m hanging out with both of you.”

Spike smiled and said “Well like Twilight said she hatched me from an egg. After that she taught me how to be her assistant, and Celestia taught us both a lot about the world. She never mentioned Spirus though. I wonder why?” Jay shrugged wondering that himself as Spike continued “I guess other than that I’ve just been growing up and spending time with Twilight. Of course I could go into detail about everything up to when we met.”

Jay chuckled and said “No the short version was fine Spike.” Spike smiled and nodded as Jay turned to Twilight and asked “So Twilight, why were you looking for that book?”

Twilight smiled in return and said “I was just looking for some light reading and Princess Celestia mentioned it. I thought it sounded interesting, so I went looking for it. Besides wanting to read up on Equestrian law, why were you in the royal archives?”
Jay smiled and said “Just to look up more of Equestrian Law. I honestly had no other plans. Though I don’t know if they’re open to the public or not. If they’re not, guess I shouldn’t have been in there in the first place. Heh, but then again I have a penchant for doing things that get me in trouble.”

She shook her head and said “The archives are open, though you’d know that if you asked the guards, rather than skulking around the palace.” Jay smiled sheepishly and Twilight felt her breath catch then looked away. He raised an eyebrow which she caught out of the corner of her eye. She shrugged slightly and said “You’re smile surprised me, that’s all.” He nodded and leaned back on his heels then motioned toward a bench.

Twilight looked at him curiously and he said “Would you like to sit down?” She nodded and they walked over to the bench then took a seat. The two started discussing their lives, losing track of the time. Eventually Jay sighed and said “I better go. Think you can lead me out of here so I don’t enter any restricted sections?” Twilight nodded and stood up then glanced at Spike and motioned for him to follow them.
Twilight led the way out of the Palace, Jay memorizing it this time since the three of them weren’t talking. He smiled when he got to the exit and said “Thank you Twilight. Maybe we’ll meet again. If you want I’ll occasionally send you a letter or something. I don’t know how long I’ll be in Canterlot, however if I’m here for a few days I’ll try to find you. That is unless you want nothing to do with me after today.”

Twilight blushed and said “No I’d like to see you again if you’re still in town.” Jay nodded and bid her farewell then pulled out the directions to the club Vinyl was DJ-ing at tonight and walked there humming softly his horn occasionally pulsing with magic. He walked to the club and gave his name, getting admittance after only a few minutes then sat at a table in the back of the club and watch Vinyl work her magic. He grinned as he listened to the music and nodded his head to the beat.

He caught vinyl watching him behind her glasses and nodded at her then ordered himself a shot of whiskey. After he got it he sipped it and watched Vinyl do her thing. She was spinning the records and sending out the tunes faster and louder as the music picked up and the people started dancing. Jay saw Tavi sitting at a table not too far away and walked over then sat next to her sipping his shot. Tavi looked at him and said “Where have you been? Vinyl’s been looking for you all night.”

He raised an eyebrow and asked “She the only one? Also I just got out of the royal library. I was looking up Equestrian law, but instead I met an interesting mare who turned out to be Celestia’s protégé Twilight Sparkle. We talked for a few hours, neither of us noticed time passing. If I’d known you two were waiting for me I’d have been here sooner. It’s not like the club’s been open long, I was one of the first in line.”

Tavi replied “You could have come in before they opened like I did.” Jay winced and smiled apologetically then sniffed the air. Tavi looked at him questioningly. He raised an eyebrow and sniffed her breath. She glared and said “What are you doing exactly Mr. Wolf?”
Jay raised an eyebrow and asked “Are you drunk.” Octavia tried to look offended but failed miserably as he studied her intensely. She sighed and nodded slightly then looked away embarrassed. He looked at her and said “You’re a lightweight aren’t you?” She nodded again and he asked “That’s why you don’t drink at home?” Again she nodded and he slugged back the rest of his shot then said “Don’t worry I’ll be here for you and Vinyl. I know you’re afraid I’ll miss your concert but that’s not the case.”

Tavi looked at him and asked “Did you at least let Vinyl know you were here?” He nodded and she smiled saying “Good.” Jay raised an eyebrow and she explained, though her speech was slightly slurred, “Vinyl was worried you weren’t going to show. She thought maybe you forgot about your promise to attend. She’s had that happen before and it bothered her to no end.” Jay nodded in understanding and ordered another shot of whiskey, his body burning through the alcohol sooner than it could affect his mind.

He sipped his second glass of whiskey watching as Vinyl finally left the booth for a break. He waved her over and she smiled then sat down between him and Tavi. He stood up and gave her a quick hug then said “Sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I made a new friend and we lost track of time. I doubt you’d believe me about who it is though.”

Vinyl raised an eyebrow and said “Dude, I’d have trouble doubting you if you said you’d met the princess. I mean you did say you were going to the Canterlot library, which is a place she occasionally frequents. Although if you did meet her you need to convince her to let Tavi play at the Grand Galloping Gala.”

Jay blinked and asked “What is the Grand Galloping Gala, and when is it since I assume it’s an event of some sort if you want Tavi to play at it.” Octavia giggled drunkenly and Jay rubbed her back putting his other arm around Vinyl who leaned into him trying to think of how to explain the Gala. He watched her as she leaned into him and nuzzled her cheek affectionately then said “So you and Tavi have no problem with me making friends with another mare?” She shook her head in response nuzzling him back and raised her shades to look him in the eyes.

He stared into her eyes as she said “To answer your question I have no problem with you talking to other mares, and I’ll make sure Tavi is the same way. We know a guy like you can’t be tied down. I’d say it would be worth a shot, but you’re not the type who can settle without tasting the flowers in every field.” Jay smiled at her and she finally realized how to explain the gala. She grinned and said “As for the Gala, it’s like a big party for fancy people. Tavi wants to play and become recognized for her talent as a cellist.”

Jay grinned and said “I get that. Tavi deserves to be known for her skill. She’s an expert, and I can’t wait to see her concert tomorrow. How long we staying in Canterlot, anyway?” Vinyl shrugged and he said “Two days, three, or four?” She held up three fingers and he grinned saying “Sweet, the three of us can hang out on the last day. Tomorrow I need to explore the castle more.”

Vinyl sighed and said “I think that’s a bad idea. However I won’t stop you. Look, do you think you can take Tavi back to our room?” Jay nodded and held out his hand for the room key. Vinyl smiled and said “It’s just across the street, the Pony Towers. We’re on the third floor. You have a room right next to ours.” Jay nodded as she handed him a second key which he pocketed then he stood up throwing Tavi over his shoulder. Vinyl burst out laughing and said “I think she’ll prefer a princess carry to being carried over your shoulder.”

Jay shrugged and slipped her into his arms. He got up and said “See ya later Vinyl. Have a good night of performing. I hope you enjoy it. I may be back after I drop Tavi off, we’ll see.” Vinyl nodded and smiled then went back to her DJ booth while Jay started for the door. He walked out and followed Vinyl’s directions to the hotel then walked up the stairs to their rooms and took Tavi into her and Vinyl’s room. He laid Tavi on her bed then pulled the covers over her, and shut out the light in the room.

He started for the door only for Tavi to grab the back of his shirt in her hands and say “Please stay. I really don’t want to be alone tonight.” Jay sighed and sat down in a chair beside her bed with a look that asked ‘That what you wanted?’ She nodded and curled up under her blankets then closed her eyes yawning. He stretched and popped his back then his shoulder before closing his eyes.

Tavi watched him for a few moments before falling into a deep sleep induced by the alcohol and the feelings of comfort and safety he presented. Jay meanwhile was in a light doze that could be woken up at a moment’s notice if anyone were to enter the room. He was worried about anyone trying to attack Tavi, more like he was just always alert outside their home which he always triple checked the lock of when he woke up in the middle of the night. It was just his nature.

As Jay slept he dreamed of the filly trapped in the cage again. The two of them sat talking until he woke up from the sound of someone opening the door to Tavi’s room. He looked up and saw Vinyl walking in with tired eyes. He smiled and stood up then hugged her and said “Have a good night Vinyl; Tavi needed someone to stay with her.”

Vinyl nodded and said “She’s been like that since you went into the forest.” Jay raised an eyebrow standing in the doorway. She smiled and said “You’d be surprised how used to hearing you snore we are. We’re also just used to you being in the same building as us. Tavi’s been sneaking into my bed because she was so worried about you and was having nightmares. We were marefriends for a while, so you can understand.” Jay nodded and walked out the door shutting it behind him then walked into his own room and saw his bag on the bed. He changed into a pair of silver boxers and an old worn t shirt.

He stretched and lay down on his bed about to turn in for the night when someone knocked on his door. He sighed and got up then opened it to see Vinyl and Tavi staring at him both wide awake and slightly fearful. He sighed and asked “Tired, Can’t sleep, and want to cuddle?” The two nodded and he sighed then motioned for them to come in. Vinyl walked in swaying her hips from side to side while Tavi walked in a bit more sober and sat on the bed.

Jay raised an eyebrow and Tavi sighed then looked at the ground feeling slightly hung over from her brief respite and said softly “I couldn’t sleep anymore once you left.” He smiled slightly and walked over putting an arm around her and hugging her. She looked up at him an explained “I got so used to being able to check in on you at the house after you got back from the Everfree that the thought of being unable to do so didn’t sit well with me. I don’t know why Vinyl came in, but everything you said is true, even the wanting to cuddle with you.”

Jay looked at Vinyl who said “I just couldn’t get to sleep.” She curled up with her knees to her chest and her head on them and continued “I have been kind of sneaking into your room with Tavi and got used to the smell and sight of you. I could smell your scent on the chair, but that was it. I wasn’t used to being in a room in a new place without you. I know I had Tavi, but it wasn’t the same. I don’t know why or how you do what you do to me, but I feel different when you’re around. Seeing you at the club perked me right up, and I was happy you were taking care of Tavi, but I wanted you to stay and watch me until I had to leave. I knew it was selfish but I just didn’t care. I wanted you.”

Jay sighed and pulled Vinyl over with his other arm hugging her as well as Octavia and said “Vinyl if you feel left out because of me and Tavi you shouldn’t. I like you both equally, what that means I don’t know. I haven’t explored more than brief sexual escapades from time to time since I was a foal. I’ve never been emotionally close to anyone, but you two and Twilight got under my skin and saw some of the real me. I was worried I couldn’t come home to the two of you when I was in the Everfree, but I was more worried you wouldn’t want me there when you found out more about me. I’m still worried about that but I can’t hide anything else from you girls. Let’s just call it a night because I plan on going to the castle early tomorrow.”

The two mares nodded and curled up next to the stallion who they both realized they cared about deeply and closed their eyes burying their faces into his arms and waiting for him to lay back. He smiled at them and lay down using his magic, which Twilight had helped him understand a bit better, to pull the cover over them and mumbled “Tomorrow we should really get our bits back for the second room since you two won’t be using it.”

They nodded into his arms and curled up tighter feeling safe for the first time in either of their lives, at least to this extent. Both had felt content and safe before, but never quite this safe or this content. Vinyl didn’t know why but she felt safer than even in the arms of her dam, while Octavia felt safer than in the arms of anyone even her many lovers. Heck she felt safer than when she was in Vinyl’s arms and was smashed. She didn’t know why but Jay just did something to her. It was strange and both mares wanted the feeling to never go away. Jay meanwhile was realizing that he hadn’t felt like this in a long time. The only affection he was used to feeling was familial affection with Zero, Hunter, and something else with Alex.

He smiled as he remembered Alex then sighed when he thought about what her loss had done to him and Hunter. Hunter had felt lost, then promised to protect everyone till he had to leave, while Jay just tried to hold onto the familial love he felt for the man and Zero his little bro. He sighed as he thought “Sorry guys, I guess I didn’t realize just how much you’d want me to move on with my life until now. Heh, kind of funny I guess, that it took three beautiful mares talking to me for me to realize how much I need to change. Ah well, maybe they can help me move on from other problems, if they can get over me lying to them.”

He fell into a deep sleep as he heard the mares’ rhythmic breathing. As the three slept the world turned on, the moon lowering at the behest of its current master. However both the astral body and the mare who currently ruled it knew that it’s true master’s return was coming closer every day. One more year, that’s all they had to wait. One year and then Luna would return. Meanwhile the ponies of the world slept on never realizing the seven who would save them were hidden throughout Equestria.

Sunrise came much too quickly for the three sharing the stallion’s bed. Jay woke up yawning at dawn as always, and Vinyl and Tavi mumbled in discomfort when they felt his arms leave their shoulders. He slipped out from between them and let them cuddle up with each other grabbing his toothbrush and brushing his teeth, noticing that his canines were once again sharper than those of a normal pony. He sighed and mumbled “Damn canines. Always grow when I sleep and shrink when I have my first bite of the day.”

He shook his head and stuck it out of the bathroom door as he heard mumbling coming from his bed. He saw Vinyl and Tavi laying there cuddling and smiled then finished brushing his teeth. He took a quick shower, feeling the water warm up as he was in it. He was used to taking cold showers so the warming of the water actually relaxed him as he laid his head against the wall of the shower and let the water run down his body.

As he was getting out of the bathroom the girls were getting up and stretching not even noticing each other. He grinned and walked over pulling on his pants as he walked, which was easier than you would think do to experience. He pulled on a shirt as he said “Good morning ladies. If you want you can sleep in, I’m gonna drop by Doughnut Joe’s and grab myself a few glazed and a cup of hot chocolate. You can do what you want, but I won’t be back until about a half hour to an hour before Tavi’s concert. That’s alright, yes?”

The girls nodded yawning and he tossed his dirty clothes in the laundry bag they brought then started for the door. The girls watched him go and he waved over his shoulder then shut it behind him as he started for the elevator. He rode the elevator down to the lobby and nodded to the desk clerk before walking out into the early morning sunlight. He pulled on his shades and headed to Doughnut Joe’s where he got a half dozen glazed and a cup of hot chocolate, having no taste for coffee.

He finished his drink and food in record time and headed to the palace, sneaking in as guards changed shift and exploring the halls. He knew the way to the entrance from the gardens and library, but didn’t know how to get around everywhere else. He constantly had to dodge guards by slipping into empty rooms before finding himself in the princess’s study. He blinked as he heard a cough behind him and slowly turned around wincing when he saw the princess studying him with a raised eyebrow.

He sighed and said “I knew it was too easy.” She arched her eyebrow even higher and he said “Well I didn’t intend to meet you so soon, however I guess since we’re meeting I owe you a tale which will lead to why I’m in your palace.” She smirked slightly at this and waited for him to begin. He looked at her and asked “Do you have any questions before I begin, princess?’

Celestia nodded and said “A few. First who are you? Second why do I feel as if I know you? Third why do I see three figures standing behind you? Lastly, why do I get the feeling that you think I’m going to throw you in the dungeon?” Jay chuckled at that, and stretched then popped his neck before sitting down across the desk from her after questioningly looking at the seat. She nodded to let him know that yes he could indeed sit in the chair which he did so gladly. She watched him and said “You can answer my questions in whatever order you’d like, however I want all of them answered before you finish with your story or you may spend the rest of the day in the dungeon. Also don’t lie, I’ll know.”

Jay shrugged and said “I’ll start by answering a few of your questions first. First, to answer your last question, I just have the vague feeling something bad is going to happen to me after meeting with you. Second, my name is Jacob Shadows, but I prefer to go by Jay Wolf or Jake Shadow. I don’t know why you feel as if you know me, and unless the figures standing behind me are a human, an angel, and a demon I don’t know. Now I guess I owe you my story.”

Celestia nodded and he said “I was born twenty three years ago in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania in the United States of America on earth. I was born a human, with a demon trapped in my soul and memories of thousands of life times. I grew up traveling around the U.S. and found myself in the small town of Mena Arkansas when I was twelve years old. It was in Mena where I cast my name aside and became Jay Wolf. I left my home because I was attacked by a demon on my way to school. I realized they were targeting me for some reason, and couldn’t risk my family.

“I was dragged into a house by a man wearing a cloak who had his eyes covered by a pair of shades and black hair. His skin was the same color as mine, tan and all, and he had scars all over his arms, much like I do now. He said to call him Hunter, Hunter Wolf. After that he taught me how to hunt demons. He slowly started to make a few different groups of hunters that he sent across the U.S. As time went on my friends and I started being taken out one by one. It started with my girlfriend Alex, then eventually Hunter vanished after saying he wasn’t needed anymore, then my other friends were taken out one by one. Finally it was down to me and the guy I saw as a little brother, Zero. Zero’s real name was Dustin.

“After Zero died I was brought here by a demon who I killed that was trying to transfer himself here. I don’t know about back home, but I figure it’s probably been consumed with no hunters left to fight for it. I honestly can’t care anymore because I don’t see it as home any longer. Eques is my home now. I tried to explore your castle because I wanted to learn more about you. I was hoping to find out what kind of leader you were through how you treat your followers and the things you do rather than what people say.”

Celestia stared at him and said “Hmm. I’m surprised, but now I know why you seem so familiar. As for the figure behind you one is a Pegasus, one a human and one is an earth pony. They all have different coats and manes. Though now I realize who the human is because I believe I’ve met him before. Anyway I think it’s time you left; your story took a few hours to tell.”

He looked out the window at the sky and said “Yeah, would you be so kind as to join me at my friend’s concert?” She raised an eyebrow and he said “I would like to learn more about you from the source. The only way I can think of that is if I talked to you. So would you do the honor of accompanying me princess?” She nodded and the two started for the concert hall. Jay saw Vinyl standing in line when they got there and nodded at her. She trotted over and the three were allowed into the VIP section thanks to the princess being one of them.
Vinyl stared at Princess Celestia and Jay said “Vinyl it’s rude to stare.” Vinyl nodded and looked away then glanced at Jay questioningly. He shrugged and said “I guess I sorta asked her here and we ended up going together.” Vinyl slowly nodded wondering if the princess was competition for Jay’s love and if so she wondered how she could compete. Jay put an arm around her waist as they sat down and he started talking with Celestia.

Vinyl smiled and leaned back into him as the two of them continued talking. Jay smiled a bit feeling the more he learned about Celestia, the more he wanted to know about her. He didn’t know why, but he felt as if she knew more about him than anyone else in this world, and not just because of his story, but also because of who and what she was. Eventually they trailed off as the music began and he watched Tavi play.

After about three hours the concert ended and he and Vinyl bid Celestia farewell then the two of them went to meet up with Tavi. Octavia watched as her best friend and the male she hoped to call her colt friend approached her. Jay smiled and pulled her into a hug then lifted up her Cello and carried it off to their room with Tavi and Vinyl discussing things behind him. When he got to their room he set the Cello down and watched the two mares who were giving him studious looks.

He raised an eyebrow and finally said “something wrong?’ They shook their heads and he said “Then I have free reign to speak?” They nodded again and he said “Then let me tell you my story.” He repeated the story he told Celestia adding more details here and there and elaborating on his time in Ponyville as well as his feelings for the two mares in front of him. He finished as the moon was midway in the sky and the three of them sat down staring at each other.

The girls looked at him and started to say what they were thinking. He waited as they stopped and looked at each other then smiled an turned toward him ready to explain just what they thought.

Chapter 5: The decision, Meeting Twilight again, Becoming Celestia’s friend, Travelling.

The girls walked up to Jay and hugged him tightly. He blinked and started to ask why they were so supportive of him, when he realized that they either hadn’t heard his story or didn’t care. He was leaning more toward didn’t care wen Vinyl said “You went through so much, yet you still allow yourself to trust others. I can see why the Princess had no problem with you slipping into her study after you told her your tale.” Jay smiled and hugged her tighter then glanced at Tavi who was holding onto him and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Tavi looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said “I didn’t know you were hurting so much when we first met. Now that I do it hurts me to know you didn’t think you could trust us with this sooner. However it does my heart good to know you did trust us with it. You realize it’s a little outlandish, right?” Jay nodded and smiled sadly at that as Vinyl sighed and face palmed. Tavi continued “I don’t know what I’d do without you Jay. So I don’t think I will, I want you to be mine and to be yours in turn. I can’t deny my feelings any longer. Will you be my colt friend?”

Jay blinked surprised and started to say he didn’t know if he was ready for that when Vinyl coughed into her hand and raised up her glasses. He stared into her crimson eyes and she said softly “I’d like to be your mare friend as well.” Jay let go of the girls and fell back on his rear in shock his mind whirring. A part of him wanted to say no, but a little louder part screamed at him to accept them. He didn’t know what to do. His old morals would have never let him date more than one girl, or mare in this case, and yet his newer more base animal instincts told him that this was acceptable.

He muttered softly “What the hay.” He looked up and said “I can’t say no to either one of you. So if you’re willing to share, and accept the fact there may be other mares in the future, I guess I’m forced to say yes.” The two looked at each other then held up a finger each and turned away to start discussing things quietly out of his earshot. He sighed and thought “I’m such a monster. How could I expect two mares who deserve to get all of a male’s heart not just a piece of it, to accept a small piece of my own when they know they’ll have to share it with other females, including their best friend.”

Eventually the two walked back with completely straight faces, Vinyl’s glasses pulled down over her eyes and Octavia’s hair covering her own as they said “Well….” Jay raised an eyebrow and motioned for them to go on. They glanced at each other seeming to come to a decision even more surely than before and said “We accept your terms on the term we get to meet any of these girls and interview them to find out how much they care about you and if they can accept being part of a herd.”

Jay slowly nodded with a stupefied look on his face then broke out into a grin and jumped into the air shouting “OF COURSE!” He quickly grabbed the girls and pulled them close then kissed them each on the tip of their muzzles before stopping and saying “I have some things to show you.” They nodded and he pulled off his shirt revealing the scars on his back and arms. Vinyl gasped while Octavia paled drastically. He glanced back and said “Easy Tavi. These are healed wounds; they just look different because my fur was dyed by the blood flowing down it. It started out white, then it turned blood red. They’re like the scars on my face, caused by a demon, but unlike the scars on my face, they were ripped open by Timber wolves. The wound reopening dyed it red with blood. I’ve taken showers and baths since, but none of them could erase the blood stains from my fur.”

Vinyl swallowed thickly and said “Wow, that’s rough. How long have you had those?”
Jay thought about it and said “Since my last trip into the Everfree they’ve been red. Before that they were white from my first appearance in the Everfree when Rainbow Dash saved my tail, literally.”

Octavia, Tavi to Jay and Vinyl, sighed and said “Can I touch them?” Jay nodded and she gently ran her fingers through the fur noticing that it wasn’t coarse as you’d expect something the color of blood to be, but rather very fluffy and light. Jay shivered at the touch finding out for the first time his back was now sensitive to gentle pressure as much as it used to be sensitive to hard touches when he was a kid. He shivered again as Vinyl also touched his back and Tavi asked “Does it hurt?” Jay shook his head.

Vinyl stroked the fur and said “It’s so soft. I have to work to get my coat this soft. What’s your secret?” Jay shrugged and winced as they pressed a little too hard causing his back to lock up. He groaned and the girls quickly worked the knots out of his back careful not to do more damage. He sighed in pleasure and muttered a quick thanks. Vinyl looked at Tavi and said “So now for the important question, who gets him first?”

Jay chuckled and said “Isn’t it a little early for one of you to be thinking that you should get a turn with me in a way that is more than just sleeping beside me?” Vinyl thought about it as Jay turned around then shook her head, while Tavi just face palmed muttering under her breath. He raised an eyebrow and asked “Something wrong Tavi?” She nodded into her hand. He raised an eyebrow and said “Please do explain.”

Tavi sighed and said “Vinyl’s always been, a bit presumptuous; I guess is the best word. She’s not afraid to say what is on her mind. That’s why I was expecting something like this but it amazes me just how embarrassing it is to think of either of us with you in certain ways. I admit normally I’m the type to take things slowly, but we were both willing to umm let’s just say jump your bones, as granny smith apple would say.” Jay chuckled at that bit of info then it really hit home and he swallowed wondering if they were going to do just that. Tavi put that fear to rest however by saying “However we won’t. For multiple reasons, one of which is we are ladies even if Vinyl pretends otherwise. Another is that we can see how uncomfortable you currently are with that thought.”

Vinyl nodded and Jay smiled saying “Thanks Girls. I honestly would be happy to take either one of you, but not until we know each other better, alright? I mean you know everything there is to know about my past, but you don’t know me.” They nodded and the three of them got ready for bed. Jay let the ladies go first then took his shower and lay in bed in just his boxers this time, because he really didn’t feel like wearing a shirt. He’d gotten to hot the night before from the girls’ body heat and the covers. The three of them curled up together and he said “I love you Vinyl. I love you Tavi. I’ll talk to you in the morning and we can decide what we’re doing for our last day in town.”

The girls nodded and said “Night Jay, I love you.” They curled up into his sides and nuzzled his neck breathing in his scent. Not noticing the slight undertone of blood that his scent always carried. Vinyl buried her face into Jay’s neck while Tavi buried herself between his side and arm. Jay sighed and watched them both then closed his eyes and fell back into the dream of the filly on the moon. They looked at each other over Jay’s stomach and Vinyl said “So you, Octavia, are willing to share your colt friend with multiple mares?” Octavia nodded and said “Yes Vinyl, I’m willing to share him because I know he’ll always come back to me. He said he was loyal and I can believe it.”

Jay snored and the girls looked at each other then said “Of course, this means that we’ll have to find out who his alpha is.” They both nodded at that and Vinyl continued “I figure it’ll be one of us, but if not we should at least become their advisors since we know more about him than most.” Octavia nodded and said “I think we should find out who all have interest in our stallion and get them together to find out why and when they began to like him. That way we can see who’s serious and who just thinks this would be fun without putting the effort he deserves into their relationship when we both know whoever he’s with will be given his all.”

Vinyl nodded yawning and said “Right you are Tavi. Anyway I’m going to sleep, night.” Octavia bid her a good night and the two of them fell asleep holding onto Jay. As the night passed their dreams were checked up on by Jay, who was taught how to dream walk by the filly on the moon. He watched as Vinyl played for a club full of people who’d doubted her when she was younger, while Tavi was playing a concert in front of the nobles of Canterlot. He left their dreams and walked the plains of dreams looking for anyone he knew. Eventually he shrugged and returned to the moon, and his own dreams, for the rest of the night.

Jay woke up at dawn. He laid there hugging the girls. They mumbled in their sleep and Jay smiled thinking “My mare friends, has a nice ring to it. Of course knowing me there’ll be more than just the two of them. I never have been able to say no to those that care about me when I know that I care about them as much as they care about me.” He yawned and blinked as the sun hit him in the eyes resisting the urge to scream out in pain. He pulled the girls closer and buried his face in Tavi’s hair muttering about the light.

Vinyl woke up about half an hour later yawning and saw Jay then Tavi and grinned. She nipped Jay’s neck causing him to shiver then glanced at Tavi who was snoring softly and occasionally mumbling as if she was talking to someone important. She rubbed Jay’s side and said “Morning handsome.” He smiled at her and she continued “So any plans for the day?”

He shrugged and said “Other than spending my day with you girls, not particularly. Why have something in particular you want to do?” Vinyl shrugged and he nuzzled the top of her head causing her to smile and bury her face into his neck again sticking her tongue out to lick it. He shivered and asked “How the hay do you know my spots?” She looked at him questioningly and he said “You know the erogenous zones, aka my spots.”

Vinyl grinned and nipped his neck saying “I didn’t know they were your “spots” as you call them, I just thought it would be fun to see how you react to them being touched. Well how you would react to me doing stuff to your neck anyway. You’re reactions are what gave away your spots.” Jay shivered at that and thought “Oh boy.” He realized he’d given her material to use against him, and he knew Vinyl was not one to let an opportunity go to waste.

He growled softly and whispered in her ear, as he bit down on it, “You tease me Vinyl and I’ll tease you back. Got it DJ Pon-3?” She nodded and he nipped her ear again then sucked on it rubbing her back and pulling her close. She shivered and mumbled no fair, then closed her eyes and let him do as he would to her wondering if he’d asked Tavi about how sensitive her ears were. When she saw his smirk, with the tip of her ear in his mouth she blushed up a storm.

He smirked and released her ear then bent down and started nibbling on Tavi’s jaw causing her to squirm in her sleep. Vinyl stared and said “I know for a fact I didn’t tell you how sensitive any of Tavi is.” He just smirked at her and she said “I know even when she’s drunk she doesn’t tell people how to get her riled up, so how did you learn about that spot?” Jay shrugged and continued lipping at Tavi’s neck and jaw causing her to open her eyes and try to wave him off thinking it was Vinyl. He chuckled and Vinyl said “Tavi it’s Jay doing that not me.”

Tavi woke up and said “Mr. Wolf I expect you to stop. Or else we will be forced to retaliate by finding out how ticklish you are.” Jay snorted and gave her a look that challenged her to do so. The two mares accepted the challenge and started to tickle the stallion. He snorted finding this amusing but not laughable because he wasn’t ticklish. He watched as the girls attempted everything they could think of before giving up and Octavia said “I will make you pay, trust me.”

Jay chuckled at her and stroked her hair saying “Of course Tavi. I’m not worried about you getting me back though, because I know I’ll deserve it when you do.” Octavia smiled unable to tell him to not call her Octavia with how sweet he was being. Jay smiled and said “Love you Tavi.” Vinyl looked affronted at him only saying he loved Tavi and he kissed her on the lips then said “Love you too Vinyl. Though I love you, if you ever wake me by washing the dishes with Wubs again I’m taking away your DJ equipment.”

Vinyl whined and said “That’s no fair Jay! You’re bigger and stronger than me! It’s so uncool if a DJ gets her equipment taken away by her colt friend because he doesn’t want to be woken up by it. How would I explain that I couldn’t get my equipment when Pinkie asked me to DJ or something?” Meanwhile Octavia was giggling and imagining the quiet of having Vinyl’s equipment hidden from her. Jay looked at her and Vinyl whined “Tavi tell him he can’t hide my stuff!!!!” Tavi burst out laughing at that and couldn’t help but shake her head.

Jay smiled and said “You realize you wake her up too?” Vinyl grumbled but agreed to keep it down when the other two were sleeping and Jay kissed her deeply in response. She murred into his mouth as they kissed and let out a soft whinny as he pulled away. He smiled and stroked her mane as well as Tavi’s and said “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.” They smirked thinking he’d probably be fine, and he was just being nice. What they didn’t realize was just how serious Jay was when he said things like that. He honestly didn’t know what he’d do without the two of them.

Vinyl sighed and said “So what’s the plan for this morning?” Octavia didn’t reply as she was too busy sucking face with Jay who was obviously enjoying himself. As they broke the kiss Jay motioned for the girls to go use the bathroom since he knew they’d want to freshen up. They smiled at him and Vinyl said “Thank you dude.” They walked into the bathroom and prepared for the day, brushing out their manes, in Octavia’s case doing her eyes, brushing out their tales, and brushing their teeth.

As soon as they were done Jay went and used the bathroom then the three of them got dressed and decided to head to Doughnut Joe’s since Jay was so enamored with the place. They walked in and Jay said “Hey Joe.” Joe waved at one of his new favorite customers, who while he tallied up their orders just by looking at them. Jay blinked when he saw the number of pastries piling up and thought “Oh boy, we’re going to have sore stomachs by the time breakfast is over. At least the girls won’t be puking it up all over the place being that they’ve stopped drinking as much since I moved in.”

Joe pulled up their order and said “Two dozen glazed, five cream filled, and one chocolate with sprinkles. That’ll be fifty bits guys.” Jay quickly payed and thanked Joe who snorted and said “Jay you’re quickly becoming one of the ponies I enjoy seeing every day. I hope you plan on visiting every time you’re in Canterlot. That said I’m glad you brought friends, though I bet they aren’t as into doughnuts as you. Ah well, always the Princess and Twilight to spoil.” Jay chuckled and nodded then bid the stallion farewell before sitting at a table with the girls.
They each took a doughnut and Jay smiled watching as the girls learned of the rapture that was Doughnut Joe’s. The girls ate in contented silence while Jay thought of what to do with them next since breakfast wasn’t really much of a chance to talk with them all eating. They finished the doughnuts in short order and got up then Jay said “So girls now what?” They discussed it amongst themselves before dragging him out of the bakery and down the street toward a music hall.

Jay followed along bemusedly and hummed softly to himself. He blinked as he realized he was humming a tune he read in a book and mumbled “We’ll away to dance with Jack of the Shadows.” He chuckled and stretched taking his arms from the girls then said “So another concert? Can we go to the library after this, and then maybe just wander around?” The girls nodded and they walked into the concert hall before paying for their tickets and sitting at the back as the concert began. The mares laid their heads on the stallion’s shoulders and listened to the music.

Jay chuckled slightly and stretched then popped his back and listened intently. This particular concert reminded him of Beethoven and Bach. He hummed along wrapping his arms around the girls who leaned more on him and ignoring the nobles around them with scandalized looks. Eventually the concert ended and the three of them went off to explore the city.

They walked along the streets talking amongst themselves and laughing at a joke one or the other made. Eventually they got to the library and Jay walked in then the girls went to the classic music section, where Vinyl was trying to combine music together to make better music, and Octavia was learning all she could about classic compositions while Jay headed to Equestrian law. However when he got in there he found himself face to face with Twilight Sparkle. She blinked and said “Hey Jay.” He grinned and waved then started for a stack of law books.
She walked alongside him and said “You know, you never did tell me what exactly you were looking for. Although the princess told me about your meeting, which brings up the question, why were you wandering around the castle?” Jay just smiled slightly and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. She stared at him and asked “Something wrong?”

Jay shook his head and said “No. I just feel bad about not asking you if you knew how to get around the castle. I kind of was trying to avoid the guards and ended up in Celestia’s study. It wasn’t intentional, but it was interesting to meet her. She’s your mentor, right Twilight?” Twilight nodded and he said “Cool. She’s a really kind person so I can see why she’d want someone as kinds as you to be her student.” Twilight blushed and he continued as if he didn’t notice “Of course with someone as magically strong as you in the court it’s not a surprise everyone wants to learn so much more about her. Anyway I’m hanging out with some friends, would you like to join us?”

Twilight slowly nodded and said “If you don’t mind, since Spike is currently with the princess.” Jay smiled and motioned for her to follow him to the check out as he checked out about a dozen books on Equestrian law. The girls each checked out sheet music quite happy till they saw Twilight talking to their stallion. Jay saw the looks in their eyes and whistled to get their attention. They looked at him and he motioned toward his eyes then them. They sighed while Twilight looked slightly confused.

He sighed and said “They’re jealous.” Twilight blinked and pointed at herself. He nodded and said “Yes of you.” She stared at the other two mares who sighed and nodded. Jay coughed to get their attention and said “Ladies there is enough of me for the three of you to share. Plus you never know maybe Twilight knows things about composers you two never thought of. Also it would mean a lot to me if my friends got along, so please, for me?” The three mares agreed to get along then Jay yawned as he put the books in a bag which he slipped onto his back.
The bag was enchanted to weigh nothing, he’d had it custom made specifically for treasure hunting and what not. He figured it was worth the expense since he had yet to need another bag. He yawned and said “What do you three say to seeing a movie?” Vinyl nodded and Tavi just shrugged. Twilight squeed and ran with the other three following her at a slightly more sedate pace. They got to the theater and saw the reason for Twilight’s squee. It was the new daring do movie. Jay snorted and said “Well that’s interesting, let’s see how this goes.”

Twilight bought herself a ticket while Jay paid for his ticket as well as Vinyl and Tavi’s. The four of them went in and Jay got a soda and box of candy while the girls got popcorn for themselves. The four of them went into the theater and sat down. Jay yawned and stretched then put his arms around his two mares while Twilight got lost in the movie. He watched the movie with rapt attention finding Daring Do’s adventures to remind him a lot of the trouble he got in. However unlike most here, he had a feeling it was real adventures just dramatized. Jay munched on his candy as he watched the movie, occasionally covering the girl’s eyes to surprise them, and watching Twilight carefully.

When the movie was over Jay walked out with the three mares and Twilight bid them farewell as she had to go pick up Spike. Jay bid her farewell and looked at his two mares who mumbled she wasn’t so bad. He chuckled and said “Let’s get our stuff and head back home.” The girls nodded and they walked back to the hotel before going up to their rooms and grabbing their stuff. However on their way out, Jay was stopped by a guardsman. He sighed and asked “Am I in any sort of trouble?” The guardsman shook his head and he said “Alright lead on.”
He threw his bags to Vinyl and said “I’ll probably see you guys in the morning, just wait for me at the house.” They nodded and waved him off then he followed the guard toward the palace.

The guard said “Princess Celestia wishes to speak with you.” Jay nodded and motioned for him to lead on. He was led throughout the palace until they got to Celestia’s study where the guard knocked on the door. She called them in and the guard said “Princess I have the stallion you requested. He was just about to leave Canterlot.”

Celestia sighed and said “I didn’t need you to stop him Lieutenant. Thank you though. I would like to speak with Mr. Wolf alone.” The guardsman saluted and left through the door shutting it behind him. Jay watched her until she motioned to a chair and said “Take a seat Jay.” He did as instructed and she held her hand out for a shake. He took it and shook slowly watching her eyes for any clues as to what the princess was planning. She yawned and said “Sorry it’s been a long day. Raising the sun, and setting the moon, can wear on a person. I only get to sleep in on the darkest days of the year.” Jay nodded in understanding and stretched then popped his back.

She studied him and he said “So, what did you want to see me for Princess?” Celestia blinked surprised and he said “Even if it was just for pleasant company you have an ulterior motive for inviting me here when you could have just sent me a letter or something, so I figure you have things you need to get off your chest. I also figure it has to do with the filly on the moon.”

Celestia blinked and asked “Filly on the moon? You mean Mare in the moon?” Jay shook his head and watched her. She stared at him and asked “Who is the filly you speak of? The only mare that had anything to do with the moon is the mythical nightmare moon.”
Jay snorted and said “Then you have forgotten about your own sister.” Celestia flinched and stared at him as he continued “She however hasn’t forgotten you. She still loves you, but she’s been fighting with both the nightmare and demonic influence that turned her against you. Honestly I’m surprised it took you two so long to meet with Demons. Speaking of which, there are demons in the Everfree forest. They gave me the marks on my face.”

Celestia gasped and said “What do you mean?” He pointed at the scars across his face in response and she sighed then asked “Is Luna alright?” He nodded and she said “Thank Faust. I was worried she was hurt and alone up there.” Jay snorted at that thinking that she didn’t know just how alone Luna felt. Celestia saw the look in his eyes and said “I have a plan to cleanse her of the taint.” Jay raised an eyebrow and she said “It involves the elements of harmony, but first I need someone to find all six of them.”

Jay sighed and said “One is Twilight Sparkle. The other five must be in Ponyville; otherwise you wouldn’t be planning the summer sun celebration there next year.” She stared at him and he continued “You just don’t know who exactly. Next year Luna breaks free, and the nightmare and demon try to consume her completely. The nightmare already has help here in Equestria thanks to the demons that are in the Everfree. You need as much help as you could get and I am the best stallion for the job.”

Celestia smiled and said “Only if you feel you’re the best stallion for the job. After all you know Ponyville, and you know Twilight. The fact you were able to become her friend so quickly is surprising, but it shows what kind of stallion you really are. Of course, I truly want to be your friend, so I hope you don’t think I’m just using you. If you do then I request that you don’t do this. I would hate to alienate one of the few people in contact with Luna. Honestly I’d rather you just tell me about my sister than search for the elements but I know you’re going back to Ponyville sooner rather than later.”

Jay chuckled and said “Easy Tia. I know how much you love Luna. I was just teasing. You’re a leader who puts her people before herself. That’s great. I think we could be great friends if you actually tried to be yourself around me. As for looking for the elements, I just need to know what they are. I know Twilight is the mysterious element that is supposedly hidden, but I don’t know the other five.”

Celestia blinked and said “How’d you know Twilight is the sixth element?” He tapped the side of his head and she slowly nodded then said “The other elements are Honesty, Laughter, Loyalty, Kindness, and Generosity.” Jay grinned already having a few ponies in mind and Celestia saw the look. She asked “Have prospects in mind?” Jay nodded and she said “That’s great. I’ll have Twilight in town on the Solstice as your world called the longest and shortest days of the year, from what he told me.” Jay nodded and held out his hand for another shake.
Celestia took it and he said “I know you’re hiding things Tia, because so is Luna, but it has something to do with this human you met in the past so I can deal. Anyway I best be off I have a train to catch.” Celestia nodded and watched him go. She sighed when he shut the door.
She stretched and said “So that’s what he was like before he matured. Jay Shadow, wonder how long you’ll run from your past. I know if you’re conversing with Luna she’ll do her best to keep you from running to long. I guess it all depends on when you face…him. He’s the reason you can’t move on. He’s the reason you are split into four. Eventually all four will be revealed, but the question is, are you really an alicorn, or just a human in pony skin?” She sighed and got up heading for her room. As she walked through the halls she saw Twilight talking with her older sister Guard Captain Gleaming Shield.

She noticed both looking up and glancing at her and nodded at them then walked into her room and collapsed on her bed. She wondered why she felt as if Jay was important in more ways than just being her friend. She sighed and mumbled “Why does it feel like he reminds me of Jake. He says he is him, yet they are so different. Jake was so comforting and kind, while he’s so closed off.” She fell asleep, thinking about Jay and his alter ego.

Jay smiled slightly and stretched then popped his neck as he rode the train back to Ponyville. He got out when the train arrived at the station and walked home. As he was walking he heard the sound of a struggle. He snarled at the sound and walked into an alley where Ditzy Doo, the mail mare everyone called Derpy Hooves, was being assaulted. He slammed his fist into the assailants jaw breaking it then kicked him in the ribs as he fell and slammed his head into the wall.

He glanced at Ditzy and asked “I wasn’t too late, was I?” She shook her head and he helped her up then he kicked the assailant in the ribs realizing he wasn’t someone from around Ponyville. He threw the guy out into the street as he led Ditzy out of the alley and said “So, Ditzy Doo, right?” She nodded and he asked “You need some help to get home?” Derpy nodded and Jay led her to her door where her little one Dinky Doo was sitting on the step waiting for her.

They walked in and Ditzy asked “Can I get you anything to drink or eat?” Jay shook his head and sat on her couch looking around then smiled as Ditzy sat across from him, her legs folded and asked “Why’d you help me exactly? I saw several people pass by that alley but none of them helped me. I mean I’m not exactly the best mare in the world what with my eyes, and my dull grey coat and my disaster of a mane.”
Jay gently smacked her causing her to look at him surprised as he said “Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that. You’re a great person and you look beautiful.” Ditzy stared at him and he continued “You’re called Derpy because you’ve messed up a lot but that’s not right. I honestly think you’ll be a lot better if people would boost your confidence. So if you ever need anything just drop by Vinyl and Tavi’s or the local smithy and talk with me. Anyway I’ll leave you be, cause I gotta get home.”

Derpy nodded with a smile and watched him go then hugged Dinky who was looking at the man surprised he was so nice to her mom. She looked at her mom and said “He’s, a good guy Mommy.” Derpy nodded and hugged her filly tighter as Dinky said “Love you momma, can I go out and play?” Derpy nodded and set her down then watched her run off.

Jay smiled as he walked along the street feeling like his old self. He was almost tempted to go back to being Jake, but there was still a target he had to find before he could reclaim his name. Plus he preferred Jay, it just rolled off the tongue better.

He figured he’d change his last name back to Shadow when all was said and done though. It would be a joining of past and present to form a better future. He walked into the house as he was thinking this and saw Vinyl and Tavi sitting in the living room with their heads together talking softly. He coughed but that didn’t rouse their attention so he said “Girls I’m home.” They tackled him and peppered him with kisses then got up and smiled offering him their hands. He took them and climbed back to his feet then said “I’m going to be travelling around ponyville for the next couple of months, and probably travelling to Canterlot. I just feel like I can help out the princess. Anyway I’m off to bed because I’m exhausted. Goodnight.”

They bid him a goodnight and he climbed the stairs to his room deciding in the morning he’d travel around Ponyville talking with everyone and just reacquainting himself with the people he lived around. After all, it wasn’t every day you found your life lifted by the love of two mares.

Author's Note

There you go chapter 5. The reason Celestia pretended to only know about Nightmare moon is most ponies don't know about Luna in modern times, and she didn't want to discuss her sister until she brings her back to her senses. That said you'll notice she was quick to remind him that she does love her sister. Anyway may take a bit for the next chapter but I'll see you then unless you leave a comment.

Chapter 6: Looking for the Elements, Attracting the Mares, Making Friends.

This chapter we see Jay in a situation I wouldn't dream of being in. So if anyone assumes this is just a self insert story, you're partly right Jay is based off me, but he is not living out my fantasies alone.
Jay got up in the morning and watched Tavi and Vinyl sleep. He smiled and stroked their manes running his fingers through them and admiring their silky strands. He smiled when Tavi nuzzled into his hand. Vinyl opened her eyes and looked up at him then mumbled “Too early, shut off the sun.” Jay chuckled and stroked her back causing her to bury her face into his side and pull the blankets over her head. He chuckled and stretched finding her actions adorable. She mumbled “You’re becoming friends with Celestia, Jay. Get her to turn out the sun until noon.” Jay chuckled and used his magic to close the blinds. Vinyl mumbled “Thank you love,” and fell asleep again.

Jay chuckled and disentangled himself from the two girls leaving them to lie in bed, as he got up for the day. He walked into the bathroom and washed his face then brushed his teeth and walked downstairs to make breakfast. He yawned as he walked down the stairs then walked into the kitchen and started making Hay Bacon and eggs. He sighed as the Hay bacon cooked muttering “God how I miss real bacon. Hay bacon tastes good and all, but you can’t beat real bacon and eggs. At least my new physiology doesn’t completely prevent me from eating meat.” He licked his canines, which were once again elongated and bit down on his inner cheek drawing blood.

He sucked up the blood as he cooked and heard someone stumbling down the stairs. He pointed at the coffee pot that was boiling and said “Black coffee, sugar cubes are on the counter, milk’s out in a bucket of ice, and cream is in the fridge.” Octavia prepared her coffee the way she liked it and moaned in bliss. She knew Jay would have made it for her if she’d asked but he was busy cooking, so she didn’t feel right asking him. She sipped her drink and he said “Breakfast is almost ready.”

Octavia nodded and said “Thanks Jay. I’d get Vinyl but we both know how she is when it comes to waking up early.” Jay chuckled and nodded at that then stretched and passed her a plate of food. He made himself a plate and turned off the stove then sat down with his own plate and dug in after pouring himself a glass of orange juice. Jay sipped his drink as Octavia ate quietly then asked “So, what’s your plan for the day?”

Jay shrugged and said “I have some stuff Celestia asked me to do, but mainly I plan on reacquainting myself with the town since I mostly just hid at the house or worked since I moved in with you and Vinyl. Why Tavi, want me to stay home with you and Vinyl?” Tavi shook her head and he said “Alright, well I guess I’ll see if I can help the apples out, after all I still feel like I owe AJ for helping me out a while back.” Tavi raised an eyebrow and he said “My last trip into the Everfree?” She slowly nodded realizing that’s what he meant then stretched and went to grab her cello to work on it. He smiled slightly and kissed her cheek as he headed out the door saying “Be back for dinner. Maybe I’ll even bring desert, so don’t wait for me.”

Tavi nodded and waved him off as she started playing softly singing to herself as the door closed. Jay walked down the street humming a tune from earth under his breath and jumped out of the way as someone blew past him. He looked at them and said “Hey Dash.” Dash, who had slammed into a cart of fruit since she’d missed her intended target, waved at him. He walked over and asked “Were you trying to tackle me?” She smiled sheepishly and he asked “Why?”

She coughed into her hand and said “I didn’t know how else to approach you. I mean I’m so awesome I couldn’t just walk up and say ‘hey how you doing. Remember me I’m Rainbow Dash.’ I mean of course you’d remember me, because it’s hard to forget the dash, but still you know what I was getting at.”

Jay reached down and covered her mouth saying “You’re rambling Dash. If you want to hang out, you just have to ask. You don’t have to crash into me. Keep that up and I’ll nickname you Dash and Crash.” He saw the hurt on her face as he helped her to her feet and said “However by the look of things you’ve been hurt by being related to crashes before so I’d never do that to a friend. Which even if you don’t see me as a friend yet, I see you as a friend for saving my tail.” Rainbow blinked and stared at him. He raised an eyebrow and said “Dashie, you ok?” She shook her head to clear it and glared at him. He smirked and said “Thought that would get a response lassie.”

She kicked him in the shin and he rubbed it as she said “Don’t call me lassie. Also don’t call me Dashie or I’m gonna kick your tail from here to Sweet Apple Acres and back.” Jay chuckled slightly knowing she was serious and started to tell her something but she steam rolled over him saying “Don’t think for a second with your flowing mane, fluffy tail, dark fur, and color changing eyes you can get whoever you want to swoon for you.”

Jay blinked and said “Rainbow.”

Rainbow continued “Just because you have that cool guy vibe doesn’t mean anything. You’re just another guy, and I refuse to just be another conquest.”

Jay said a little louder “Rainbow.”

Rainbow ran on over him “I don’t care what kind of guy you are you probably think that just because you’re handsome you can get any girl you want, well that’s not the case.”

Jay yelled “RAINBOW STOP!!!!”

She looked at him and asked “What?”

Jay replied “I’m not trying to add you to my list of conquests, hell I don’t have a list of conquests. I just thought you might want to hang out and tell me more about yourself. I mean you did save me so the least I can do is buy you lunch, since I haven’t seen you in town before today. Hell I’ll trade you stories for stories.”

Rainbow thought about it then said “You’re paying?” He nodded. She smiled and said “Sure I’d love to go to lunch with you, and sorry about jumping to conclusions but with how you’ve holed up with Vinyl and Octavia, no one knows what to think of you.” Jay waved it off and motioned for her to lead on. Rainbow led him past Applejack’s stall, which he waved at her as he passed and mouthed ‘Talk to you later.’ She nodded blushing and he ignored the blush smiling at her.

He walked along behind Rainbow and stretched feeling his body loosen up. He yawned and said “So where to Rain?” Rainbow pointed at a sign that said Hay burger and he nodded. They walked in and ordered their food. Jay just getting some hay fries and a shake, while Rainbow got a Hay burger, hay fries, and a vanilla shake. They sat down at a booth in the back of the restaurant and Jay started eating slathering his fries in ketchup. He watched Rainbow eat and said “You know, for a tomboy you have some very ladylike mannerisms.” Rainbow stared at him confused and he said “How you eat. You take small bites rather than huge heaping bites that fill your mouth. Most guys would be taking huge bites and talking with their mouths full.”

Jay sipped his shake as Rainbow swallowed and said “I am a girl. Just because I’m not into the froufrou stuff like Rarity, doesn’t mean I’m not a girl. It just means I have Ec...Something tastes.”

Jay raised an eyebrow and said “Eclectic?” Rainbow nodded thinking that was it and he said “So you have very varied tastes.” Rainbow nodded and he said “Cool. I hate when ponies lock themselves into a box just because they want a certain job or do a certain thing. I myself have an eclectic collection of thoughts that I breach every now and then. I’m currently studying law.” Rainbow shivered at that and stuck out her tongue at the idea before going back to eating. Jay snorted and said “Don’t knock it till you try it Rain. Law can be very interesting.”

Rainbow stared at him and asked “Why do you call me Rain?” He shrugged munching on a few fries and she said “Do you give everyone nicknames?” Jay shrugged again having never thought about it before. She shook her head and said “Seriously do you give everyone nicknames, even if they’re just nicknames everyone gives them?” Jay thought about it a while then shook his head. She raised an eyebrow and asked “Who do you give nicknames to then?”

Jay yawned and replied “My friends, close acquaintances, and family. Why do you ask?” Rainbow shrugged and went back to eating while Jay sipped his milkshake and thought about how he’d yet to give Vinyl a nickname. He knew Tavi called her Scratchy, but he couldn’t help but remember a TV when he heard that name. I decided to table the name for Vinyl for another day. I looked at Rainbow and asked “Does it bother you that I call you Rain?” She shook her head and I said “Because I can call you Rainbow or Dash if you prefer.”

Rainbow shook her head and said “No Rain’s fine. I’m just surprised you of all ponies called me Rain first. I mean, usually you are rather reserved with names and what not, from what I’ve seen. Since we don’t hang out and all that.” Jay nodded in understanding and grabbed her hand. She blushed slightly then looked at him and asked “Something up?” He grinned roguishly and shrugged. She sighed and bopped him on top of the head then said “Stop acting like a goof.”

Jay smirked and said “But I am a goof. I just pretend to be serious all the time. If I didn’t act like a goof now and then, then I think I’d be bucked up worse than I already am from well that’s not important and you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Rainbow gave him a look that said ‘Try me.’ So he shrugged and said “Traversing worlds, fighting demons, and losing more friends than I’ve made in my admittedly short life.” Rainbow blinked and mulled that over. He watched her waiting for her response and wondering what her first words would be. He made a mental betting pool and put down wow for fifty bucks.

Her first words were indeed “Wow,” however she continued with “Why did you do all the things you just said made you a little…crazy I guess is the nicest way to put it.”

He chuckled and replied “Traversing worlds wasn’t by choice but it’s how I got to Equestria. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Fighting demons was my original occupation back home, and I plan on picking it up after getting used to my new abilities. I hate to admit it but losing my friends, shaped me into who I am and made me value my new friends more than anyone or anything from my old life since I refuse to lose them. So all in all I wouldn’t change most of it even if it made me a wee bit loco. I’d only change losing my friends.”

Rainbow nodded in understanding and stretched then sipped her shake looking down. Jay watched her waiting for her to say something, anything really. It was odd for the normally boastful dash to be so quiet. He yawned and closed his eyes leaning back in the booth while Dash thought about what to say next. He’d surprised her with the depth of feeling he’d put into his words. It was almost as though he knew how to portray the pain he felt in the spoken word. She sighed and asked “So, do you ever want to go back to your old world?” Jay shook his head and yawned again then opened one eye questioningly. She sighed and said “Just wondering, because I don’t think I’d ever want to leave Equestria for good.”

Jay looked at her and asked “Why?” She shrugged and he raised an eyebrow not buying it. He asked “Is it because of your loyalty to Fluttershy?” She shook her head and he said “Loyalty to Celestia and Country?” She smiled slightly at the way he said that and shook her head again. He asked “Afraid you’ll miss your friends to much?” She shook her head one more time and he asked “Then is it you’re afraid you’ll change in some fundamental way that will make you someone other tha the Rainbow Dash we all know, and sometimes love.”
She punched him for the sometimes comment but grinned at him. He grinned back until she sighed and said “Yeah.” He raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to go on. She sighed and said “I’m worried I’ll change in some fundamental way.”

Jay raised an eyebrow and said “You realize change isn’t always a bad thing? I mean I’ve changed since coming to Equestria. You wouldn’t have known how to handle me before I changed. I was snarky, egotistical, an asshole, and reserved like nothing else. I didn’t even view my comrades as friends because it was the easiest way to insulate myself against their loss. It wasn’t right, but it was what I did.” Rainbow stared at him disbelievingly. He sighed and said “Think about it Rainbow, when we first met I was rather cold, and I only thanked you because you helped me get what I wanted. As time went by though I slowly started to see you and the others I’ve met as acquaintances and in some cases friends.”

She slowly nodded thinking back and asked “What changed you?” He shrugged. She raised an eyebrow not buying it and he shrugged again with a look that said ‘I’m serious I don’t know.’ Rainbow snorted and stared into his eyes trying to read him. He stared right back with a slight smirk as if daring her to enter his domain. She shivered and rubbed her arms as she looked deeper into his eyes seeing all the pain he was slowly healing from, and the darkness that filled him. She noticed there seemed to be a beast within his eyes that was trying to get out.

Suddenly Jay closed his eyes and said “You were getting to close.” Rainbow blinked and raised an eyebrow, which he seemed to sense without opening his eyes as he replied “To the beast. You were getting to close to the beast in my mind.” She slowly nodded as he opened his eyes and stretched then finished his fries. He sighed and said “You saw it, right?” She nodded and he said “I’m not sure what it is, but it lurks just below my minds’ surface.” Rainbow blinked surprised as he continued “You have the beast, and then you have the hero. It’s a part of my mind that sits there and fights with the beast not letting it gain control, but not letting it learn a different way. So you see why I’m so different from time to time. It depends on who’s in control. Normally it’s me but occasionally it’s one of the other two.”

Rainbow slowly nodded and said “Does anyone else know about the other sides of you?” He shrugged and thought about it then held up three fingers. She blinked and said “Three ponies?” He nodded and she asked “You’re roommates and one other?” He nodded again and she asked “Who’s the other one?” He smirked slightly and shook his head basically saying ‘That would be telling.’ She sighed and said “By Celestia you can be infuriating.”

Jay grinned and said “Sorry, but I’m not sorry.” She glared and he ruffled her mane causing her to flinch like she expected to be hit. He blinked and asked “Rain there something you’re not telling me involving people touching your mane in the past?” She shook her head and he said “Alright I’ll take your word for it, for now. However if I ever get wind of you being abused I’m going to hunt the bucking buggers who hurt you and make them regret it. You’re too good a mare, and too good a pony for anyone to abuse you in any way.” Rainbow blushed slightly at that and smiled seeing the determination in his eyes until he pulled on a pair of shades.

She raised an eyebrow and asked “What’s with the shades?” He shrugged and raised them slightly to look at her under them catching her eye and winking before putting them back down. She chuckled and said “Well your attitude changes from moment to moment.”
Jay nodded and said “Yup, but the thing is I’m still serious about anyone who hurts you. They will find the end of my sword meeting them, so don’t hesitate to tell me when something’s bothering you.” Rainbow nodded smiling and Jay got up then said “Well I guess I’m going to go see how others are doing, so I guess we should call this meeting to a close.” Rainbow nodded sighing and he waved bye as he walked out. He stretched as he left the stuffy environment of the burger joint and walked over to Apple Jack’s cart.

She looked up as he approached and said “Howdy pardner. I thought you were on a date with Rainbow?” He shook his head and leaned on the cart then pulled out a handful of bits and bought a couple apples. She smiled and handed him his purchase which he quickly bit into one then sat next to the cart on a crate. She raised an eyebrow and said “Trying to not be seen?” Jay nodded munching on his apple as people walked past only noticing him if they came up to buy apples from the Apple Family merchant.

Jay watched them noticing that she never charged a lot, and said around a mouthful of apple “You know, I’m surprised you don’t charge more.”

Applejack snorted and said “Wouldn’t be right to charge more than I do. I had a few people from out of town come up offering more than I charge and I couldn’t accept how much they were paying. I had to be honest and charge them only as much as the apples are worth, even if merchants in other cities are raising their prices. Just ain’t right to charge more than it’s worth.”

Jay chuckled and finished his apple then tossed the core into a trashcan saying “That’s what I like about you AJ. You’re very honest.” AJ blushed and he continued “Of course, Honesty builds trust, and without trust two ponies can’t rely on each other. Of course trust can be bred from kindness, generosity, or loyalty as well as honesty and even more it can be brought about by joy or magic.” Applejack nodded waiting to see where he was going with this. Jay chuckled seeing her look and took a bite out of an apple then said “Just airing some thoughts AJ, ignore me if you will.”

Applejack nodded and watched him carefully then turned back to her customers as one ordered a pair of apple fritters and a basket of apples. Applejack discussed the weather with the pony, as well as where they were from then bid them a good day. She looked at Jay, and said “So whatcha need to talk about?” Jay chuckled finishing his apple and burying the core in the same trashcan as the last two. He didn’t know why but Applejack’s accent just made him smile and chuckle, same for Big Mac, little that he spoke, and Applebloom chatterbox that she was.

He shrugged and said “I just wanted to chat. I consider you a friend since the incident with Applebloom the other day. Of course if you don’t agree then I’ll stop bothering you and just get some apples to go.”

AJ thought about it and said “I don’t rightly think you’re anything other than a friend. Although Granny was mighty put out when you ran out without having breakfast. Care to tell me why you didn’t stick around? Was our company that offensive?” Jay shook his head finishing off yet another apple tossing the core into the trashcan like a hoofball player shooting for the net. He smirked when it landed inside then looked a little contrite at the thought of offending his friend and her family.

He sighed and said “I didn’t think about how it would affect you guys when I left. I just had to get out of there and see my roommates. Sorry, I should have at least stayed for breakfast, especially if it was made with these delicious apples.” Applejack grinned at the compliment to the farm’s products and watched as he devoured yet another apple wondering where he put all the food since she swore she’d seen him go to the Hay burger with Rainbow. Jay yawned and asked “How are Applebloom, Granny Smith, and Big Mac?”

Applejack smiled and said “Good. They’re all doing good though Applebloom is a wondering when yawl are going to come back around. Also Granny said she wanted to thank yawl for saving Applebloom personally. Big Mac is wondering if you’d be willing to help out around the farm, because he said it was nice seeing another Stallion, even if said stallion had some weird markings.”

Jay snorted at that and said “My weird markings are scars.” AJ stared at him surprised and he said “The marks on my back are scars from demon and timberwolf claws, and the scars on my face are from a tainted sword blade. Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m just barely avoiding blindness. Anyway if you want when you’re done here we can hitch up to the cart and head to your farm to talk with Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith.” Applejack nodded and Jay sat back down while she dealt with customers. He stretched and closed his eyes relaxing.

After about two hours AJ was done for the day and the two of them headed back to Sweet Apple Acres, Jay hooked up to the cart and Applejack telling him about herself at his request. He in turn told her bits and pieces about himself. Finally they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres where Jay was tackled by Applebloom. Applebloom smiled and said “Howdy stranger.” He smiled and started to reach up toward her bow which she swatted his hand glaring in a way that said ‘No touchie.’ He chuckled.

He said “What’s up bloom? Been raising Tartarus?” She nodded and he said “Great. I’ve been doing good myself. I’ve been spending some time with a few friends, hanging out with new people, meeting the princess’s star student, etc.” Applebloom grinned and swatted his hand as it reached toward her bow again. He gave her a hurt look and said “Come on, it’s just a bow.” She glared at him playfully and he said “What, afraid I’ll take it and ruin it or something?”

Applebloom replied “Nah, I just know yawl will do something I’m not going to be happy with. I don’t let anyone touch the bow, not even sweetie and scoots.” Jay smirked and raised an eyebrow holding up his hand which had a bow in it. Applebloom stared then touched the top of her head before pouncing on him and stealing her bow back saying “Ya no good varmint. Mah bow is mah pride and joy. Granny said it was mah mom’s when she was a filly. Don’t take it away again.” Jay held up his hands in surrender chuckling slightly and motioned for her to get off. She did so huffing and saw Applejack watching then asked “What’s wrong Sis?”

Applejack replied “I’m just surprised that Jay of all people managed tah steal your bow.” Applebloom nodded and motioned for her to come closer then started whispering in her ear. Applejack swatted her with her hat, blushing and said “Now you get those thoughts outta your head Applebloom. We don’t see each other anything like that.” Jay raised an eyebrow and Applejack said “Don’t worry about it none shug, I was just telling Applebloom she’s imagining things.” Jay nodded and continued walking toward the farm.

Jay yawned and glanced at Applejack and Applebloom who were talking quietly between themselves then glanced up as he heard someone say “Howdy.” He nodded politely as he saw Granny Smith nodding at him and stretched then popped his back. She smiled and said “Welcome back Young’un. Did Applejack finally get you to accept our hospitality properly?” Jay nodded and stretched then walked over and started talking with Granny while Applejack and Applebloom got into a rather heated argument.

Jay looked at Granny after they finished speaking and said “So Granny Smith, you guys need any help around the farm? I’m currently taking a leave from working at the local forge and figured it wouldn’t hurt to help you guys out. Plus I’d like to get to know the Apple family better.” Granny cackled at that and patted him on the shoulder then sat back down in her chair and closed her eyes yawning. He watched her a bit until he heard her snoring then walked back to the two youngest, at least at Sweet Apple Acres, Apples. Jay whistled slowly and softly then slowly raised the volume the longer the girls argued.

Eventually they looked at him when he got to a pitch that had even him wincing and said “WHAT THE HAY ARE YA DOING JAY!!!???” Jay winced and stopped whistling rubbing his ears and scratching the back of his neck sheepishly as Big Mac walked up and studied the three of them. Jay pointed between the two of them then at each of them and mimed an argument then whistled before closing the mouths of his hands, which were supposed to be the two arguing, and made a motion like the two had stopped because of the whistle. Applejack blinked and Applebloom said “So basically you were trying to stop us?”

He nodded and said “yes, I was trying to get you to stop arguing without butting in. I thought the whistling would do it, which it did.” Applejack grumbled and walked off while Big Mac chuckled slightly. Applebloom sighed and he said “Sorry about hurting you and AJ’s ears Bloom, but hey I had to do something. Hurt my own ears too.” She nodded and motioned for him to follow her to the barn deciding that she’d forgive him, this time. Jay yawned and followed her saying “Ello Big Mac.”

Big Mac nodded and said “Lo,” then walked off to go buck some apples. Jay watched him go and thought “Not the most sociable fellow but there’s something to be said for stallions of few words I guess.” He stretched and walked up to AJ who was watching his interaction with Big Mac and found it amusing. He raised an eyebrow at her laughter and she shook her head then turned to Applebloom who was humming a tune under her breath and poked her in the side.

Applebloom looked at her and she said “Do you’re chores then you can do what you want. I need to talk to Jay in private for a little bit.” Applebloom nodded and walked off making the ‘I’m watching you.’ I motions with Jay who raised an eyebrow questioningly. She backed out slowly and Jay turned to Applejack who said “Sorry about her, she gets it in her head to do something and just does it. So you want to work on the farm?” He shrugged slightly in response,

She glared as he said “I would be willing to help out, and no I don’t want a wage. I’ve saved up enough I could quit working whenever I want. I just feel like helping out your family with my own two hands because I feel you’re a friend.” Applejack blinked surprised as he continued “Plus I grew up on a farm, to a point, so I can at least help with the animals and crops that grow in the ground. Bucking trees, I’m not so sure about. I am a unicorn rather than an earth pony after all. If you don’t want my help say so and I’ll be out of your hair.”

Applejack thought about it then said “For now we don’t need your help. I understand if this is a one-time offer.” Jay shook his head at that and she smiled then said “Me and Big Mac can handle it for now. I’ll contact you if we ever need help, how bout that?” Jay nodded and held his hand out for a fist bump. She stared at him and he opened instead opting for a shake. She shook his head and said “It’s a promise, and Apple Family keeps their promises.” Jay nodded and waved as he started to head off since he wasn’t needed. Applejack smiled at his back and said “See ya round partner.”

Jay waved over his shoulder without looking back smiling with his mane covering his eyes and replied “See ya round AJ. I may as well head home.” He picked up speed when he was out of AJ’s sight and started running when he got to the road leading to Sweet Apple Acres. He dodged around people as he ran going through katas in his mind his eyes turning a deep burnished gold that no one saw. What he didn’t notice was all the mares studying him as he passed by. In particular Rose Luck, Daisy, and Lilly Valley were watching him with hungry gazes.
He stopped at Quill and Sofas to get a dozen quills and then headed to the Hay Burger to grab another shake. As he was getting his shake more mares noticed him and studied him noticing his tall physique that rivalled Big Mac, and had kind eyes like Doctor Whooves, who he was talking to. They parted and Jay found himself surrounded by mares. He blinked and said “Evening Ladies.” He looked up at the sky to make sure it was indeed evening, glad to see the sun starting to sink in the horizon and said “Can I help you with anything?”

Ditzy Doo suddenly landed in front of him wielding her mail bag and said “BACK!!! BACK YOU VISCIOUS BEASTS!!!” The mares all backed up then she whispered to Jay “You really need to be careful, keep being too nice and you’re going to get yourself gobbled up by one of these vicious harlots. Vinyl sent me to tell you to get your tail home or else.” Jay saluted and slipped out of sight sipping his drink, noticing the mares arguing with Derpy about being vicious. He chuckled reminding himself to thank her and walked inside where Vinyl and Tavi were sitting on the couch waiting for him.

He raised an eyebrow and said “Did you instruct Ditzy Doo to push back the waves of admiring females with her mail bag?” Tavi nodded while Vinyl looked confused. He clarified “Ditzy is also known as Derpy Hooves.” Vinyl went ‘Oooooh,’ then nodded with Tavi. He sighed and asked “Any particular reason?”

Vinyl nodded and said “We didn’t feel like telling everyone you’re our stallion, and we also know how you get side tracked by a nice plot.” Jay blinked and started to ask what the plot in a book had to do with mares and she sighed seeing his confusion then said “A plot is a girl’s thighs Jay.” He blinked and face palmed realizing what she was getting at then started to argue before realizing she may be right. She smirked seeing his look and said “You need to realize we know you’re going to have a lot of mares hanging off you. We just want to know who they are and make sure they have you’re best interest at heart, not what they think they can use you for. That’s why we tell you to keep your wealth a secret.”

Jay nodded and started to say he got that when Octavia picked up where Vinyl left off. She said “We know you have a saving pony thing. We know you can’t help it, like with Ditzy. However we don’t want you to get hurt because of it. At the same time we know that would be something that made you happy. Being able to save someone else even if it meant you got hurt instead. When you had no one that was ok, but now you need to think about what you have to come back to you have new friends, you also have Vinyl and I, and well we don’t want to lose you. You were the first stallion to see the two of us for more than just a pair of musicians who held no passion for life. You treated us as more than friends.”

Jay smiled and stroked her mane smiling and said “I understand Tavi, Vinyl. I don’t plan on hurting either of you, but one day I may just vanish. It is all a part of my job, so I need you two to be strong and wait for me if that happens.” They nodded and he stretched then asked “Anything else you need me to do?” They shook their heads then pointed at the couch between them. He sighed put upon and sat down then they climbed into his lap and curled into his chest. He blinked and rubbed their backs as Vinyl’s horn poked him in the neck.

He moved his head over to on top of Tavi’s and nuzzled her hair stroking both girls’ backs as they nuzzled deeper into his chest. He smiled slightly as Vinyl said “Jay, you know you’re very quiet. Why is that?” Jay shrugged and breathed softly as Tavi just snuggled closer to him and Vinyl watched her across his lap then started kissing up his neck. Jay shivered then blinked when she reached up and rubbed his horn which shot off little sparks as he let out a soft sigh of pleasure. Tavi chuckled and smirked at Vinyl knowing how sensitive unicorn horns were.

Jay mumbled through the haze “Vinyl stop.” She ignored him and he let a shiver travel down his body his tail flicking. He said “Seriously Vinyl stop.” She sighed and did so he said “I know you want to get more physical but we need to know each other better before we take the next step. Same goes for you Tavi.” Octavia nodded and the three of them cuddled in silence after that then Jay said “How about you two tell me more about yourselves and your lives before we met.” Tavi and Vinyl looked at each other then at him before nodding slightly into his shoulders in a way that said they were willing to talk.

Vinyl said “Tavi’s a cellist as you know, but I don’t know all that much about her past before we met. I however was a math whiz in school. Kind of ironic considering me now, eh? I don’t seem like the mathematics type, but that’s more because of my party pony persona. My actual birth name isn’t Vinyl. It’s actually Binary Crystalline. I even attended Celestia’s school for Gifted Unicorns.” Jay raised an eyebrow and she smirked seeing his look as she explained “I was part of the math department until I found the rhythm between two songs that fit with my mathematic formula. Eventually I saw a connection between math and music and switch to music full time. I still love math though, it’s why I have so many bits to my name. It’s Tavi’s turn.”

Tavi sighed and said “I was a member of the Canterlot elite. My mother was a music expert, and a Pegasus, while my father was an earth pony and a lord. The two married shortly before I was born, after one of my mother’s concerts. They tried to get me to play several instruments over time. My mother wanted me to play a woodwind, and I fell in love with the drums for a while, as an earth pony they fit with my physique and everything, however a family friend, who I haven’t seen since, gave me my cello telling me that it would allow me to play better and get my audience more into the music.”

Jay raised his eyebrow and said “So you don’t have a secret name too, do you Tavi?” Octavia shook her head and glanced at Vinyl as if asking if they should tell him everything. They seemed to have a conversation with their eyes as they nuzzled into Jay’s stomach and side humming occasionally as needed. Finally Jay asked “What the hay are you two saying to each other with just your eyes. I can’t read minds, nor can I read eyes when they’re below my chin and you two won’t let me put my head down to try and understand.”

Vinyl chuckled and said “We were just talking about, in our own way, if we should let you know about a few things going on between the two of us before we realized we both wanted a male partner.” Jay’s ears perked up at that and he got a sappy look that said his mind was imagining things only to get pinched as she said “Down boy, down.” Jay winced and growled his eyes glowing red as Vinyl said “Yes we got frisky and tried some stuff in the bedroom, but we both saved our actual hymens intact.” Jay wondered how the hell they managed that.
Tavi coughed and said “Vinyl, is that really the best thing to tell him?” Vinyl raised an eyebrow and just looked at her. She sighed and said “Fair point. Well Jay, is that everything you wanted to know, or do you want to know more like how atrocious it was to work to earn my place in the orchestra, or how Vinyl worked her way up to the point she’s at now? Or maybe you’re wondering who my family friend was, or is it all of the above?”

Jay chuckled and said “I think I know enough, unless you want me to know more. Anyway I guess we could do things best done behind closed doors, unless you two agree we’re moving too fast.” Vinyl grumbled something about hating when males used logic because it was a turn off, and Tavi’s slight smile died as she wondered if he didn’t find them attractive. He must have felt them stiffen because he said “LOSE IT!” They looked at him confused and he said “They attitude I don’t find you attractive, lose it. I find you both to be very beautiful, but I don’t want you to jump into the sack with me just because I seem like a good guy. I want you to get to know me better and decide for yourselves if I’m a guy you can see yourselves spending time with. If so then we can go take the next step.”

They blinked and asked “Why?” He sighed and looked them in the eye. Vinyl said “Oh because you don’t want to ruin our reps.” He nodded Tavi said “And you don’t want to take advantage of us like a true gentleman. I accept this, and thank you for not seeing us as unattractive when there are obviously more attractive mares out there.” He swatted her nose in response and she rubbed it asking “What I do?” He just stared at her. She sighed and said “Fine, maybe they aren’t as much more attractive as I think and only seem that way from a slight lack of self-confidence.”

Jay rubbed her ears and mane smiling then said “Exactly. You’re a lot more beautiful than you give yourself credit for. That said, I don’t want you two thinking just cause I turn you down I don’t find you attractive, quite the opposite it’s because I find you beautiful I have so much trouble turning you down, but it’s because I care for you that I have to turn you down. Anyway I think we should head to bed.”

The two mares nodded and Jay waited for them to get off of him. When they didn’t he coughed and motioned for them to do so, which they ignored and instead curled up tighter on him and vinyl pulled a blanket over the three of them with her magic. Jay mumbled about how it was unfair every unicorn other than him seemed to be able to levitate anything with ease. Hay Vinyl even used hers to play music. He sighed and grumbled then closed his eyes realizing he was the two mares’ bed and pillow.

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Jay woke up the following morning to find himself unburdened. He got up and walked into the kitchen only to find no one there. He shrugged slightly and got up then started to wander the house looking for his two marefriends. Eventually he gave up and started cooking. As he cooked he hummed Dance with Jack o’ Shadows under his breath. By the time he was done with the song he had finished cooking and was sitting down to eat.

He ate slowly thinking about where Vinyl and Tavi could have run off to then shrugged and decided he’d just wander through the town today since he had nothing planned. He already had the feeling he knew who a few of the elements were, but he had to be sure before he approached Celestia at the next solstice, since the thousandth was two years away.

A part of him asked how old the girls in his life were and he squashed it down knowing that every girl he was affiliated with was old enough to make up their own minds about him and anything he had to do with. He finished his food and washed his plates then walked out into town, only to find himself surrounded by a herd of mares. He blinked and tried to slip away only for them to stop him at every turn. He blinked as he was herded through town, trying to dodge females at every turn. It was as if they didn’t want to let him out of their sight, well the mares that were interested in males didn’t want to let him out of their sight anyway.

The few, “Filly Foolers”, as they were called were just watching with amusement. He sighed when yet again he was herded toward town hall. He sighed as he climbed the steps and stood at the top then watched as the mares lined up. He coughed a few times to clear his throat then asked “My dear mares, what exactly are you looking for me for?” They started tossing out ideas which he nodded at some, sighed at others, and others still made him flinch. He coughed and said “And If I were to tell you I am already taken?”

Several mares replied they didn’t care others looked thoughtful, and others still just looked at him hungrily. He shivered and said “How about this, I will take every mare on 1 and only 1 date at first. If it works out we’ll see about more, but in the mean time you all promise never to ambush me again and you all give your names to my mare friends Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody. If you can’t do that, then there’s no point in you pursuing me.”

The mares talked amongst themselves then agreed to his terms dispersing to their homes while he calmly walked down the steps to greet the few remaining ponies who were not truly part of the mob, including but not limited to Ditzy Doo, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash who was laughing her tail off, and AppleJack. He smiled at them and said “You know I’m surprised all of you joined that mess at all, unless of course you’re all secretly pining for me.” Applejack chuckled looking away while Rarity just smiled slightly. He raised an eyebrow and asked “So what can I do for you?”

Rarity smiled and said “Well Darling, we need your help to cheer up our friend Fluttershy. You see, she is in a bit of a tight spot and you were the only one we could think of who’s been in the Everfree forest more than once of their own volition. If you could please escort us to her home, then do as she asks it would mean a lot to us.” Jay shrugged and motioned for them to lead on, figuring it was no trouble. He had the thought that it could even be fun floating around in his mind.

They walked along the outskirts of ponyville, Jay occasionally waving to anyone he recognized, and smiled at a few of the females they passed who looked away, blushed, or smiled back. He yawned as he walked and glanced at AJ and Rarity who were leading, followed by Rainbow and Ditzy, who were followed by Pinkie and Lyra Heartstrings. Jay smiled at the six mares when they glanced back then let the smile falter when they turned away. He wasn’t worried or anything, he just couldn’t get into a happy mood knowing Fluttershy needed help.

When they got to Fluttershy’s he stretched and knocked on the door, the six mares surrounding him. She slowly opened it then eeped and slammed it in his face. He sighed and knocked again saying “Come on Shy, you got to get over being scared of me. I mean I’m just your average unicorn. Well your average unicorn with a complex anyway. Heck your other friends are here. We came to help you out. They got me because I know so much about the Everfree, if you want however I’ll let them ask you the problem and fix it without coming inside.”
Fluttershy opened the door and mumbled a response. Jay raised an eyebrow and she said a little louder, “No you can come in if that’s ok.” Jay smiled and nodded motioning for the others to enter ahead of him and waited. They slowly filed in then he walked in last and shut the door leaning on it.

Angel bunny walked up and tried to attack him, but he grabbed the bunny by his ears and said “Angel, I know you don’t like me, but your momma needs my help. I won’t be here long, so you can get over it or I can throw you out the back and into a cat carrier. It is your choice.” Jay dropped the bunny who hopped off mentally vowing revenge against the arrogant unicorn that dared enter his domain.
Jay watched as Shy gave everyone cookies and prepared to explain her problem. He waited and Fluttershy mumbled aloud. Jay raised an eyebrow and cupped his ear causing her to eep and hide behind her hair. He sighed and motioned for her to speak up. Fluttershy sighed and said “I…I need someone to go out into the Everfree and clear the areas I collect herbs in of Timberwolves. I can’t do it myself because I can’t hurt anything.” Jay snorted at that and thought “You’ve never had a reason to hurt anything Fluttershy and no one has ever tried to teach you how to defend yourself, but we’ll work on this.”

He stretched and said “Alright, then I guess I’ll go do that while the others keep you company after I’m done I’ll let each of you tell me what you want from me, because even though your my friends, usually when girls show up in a mob, they want something from you.” They smiled sheepishly as he walked out the door and waved over his shoulder then closed it and started for the forest. He drew his sword as he walked and realized that this would be a chance to kill a few demons without anyone knowing where his injuries came from if he received any.

He grinned and walked deeper into the woods twirling his blade slowly feeling the wind resistance and stretched before running toward where Fluttershy usually grabbed her herbs. He knew it was one of the many things she did for money, alongside being a veterinarian, and being a pet supplier. He ran into the area and saw it full of Timberwolves fighting dark hounds. He started swinging his blade charging magic along it then released wave after wave of magic slicing into the wolves of both types. His magic sliced into them tearing them apart and blood and sap spread all throughout the clearing. He rushed into the fray and started slashing and hacking in an improvised pattern keeping the wolves at bay.

Jay winced as a timberwolf managed to bite down on his wrist knocking it off and bandaging his wrist with a handkerchief. He slammed his fist into a dark hound’s side knocking it over where a timberwolf savagely ripped out its throat. I sliced yet another timberwolf in half and rammed my blade down a hound’s throat causing it to choke to death then split it in half only to get pounced on from behind. He rolled forward as the dark hound tried to snap at his neck and dislodged it then slammed his blade’s hilt into its skull knocking it for a loop.
He’d gotten more used to his body over the last few weeks, and running from the mare’s earlier had gotten him only the slightest bit winded. He’d regained his wind along the walk to Fluttershy’s and so was in tip top shape when he entered into this battle. He looked around and noticed the Timberwolves had mostly taken care of the dark hounds leaving only five of them to the twenty remaining wolves. He smirked and formed a spell in his mind pushing his magic through his horn then released a wave of fire based magic engulfing all twenty five of his foes.

He rushed into the flames and sliced the five dark hounds apart as they burned then sheathed his sword and breathed out putting out the flames of the smoldering Timberwolves and the burned hounds. He stretched and picked the herbs Fluttershy was usually carrying when he saw her in town then walked back to Fluttershy’s humming. Since coming here he often found himself humming, singing, or enjoying music more and more.

He stopped as he approached the house and knocked on the door. Rarity answered and said “Why Darling you are positively covered in soot. What happened to you? You didn’t run into a forest fire did you?” He shook his head and stretched then popped his back and slipped his sheath off his back leaning on it as he pushed it into the ground. He smiled slightly at her and motioned as if to say ‘May I come inside?’ She stepped out of the way and he walked in leaving his blade against the door so as not to startle Fluttershy. He’d kept it hidden under a coat earlier, but he figured he didn’t need the coat anymore.

He took his coat off and hung it on a coat rack and walked into the living room where the girls were all gathered talking amongst themselves while they waited for him. He walked up and said “Ladies.” They greeted him and he handed Fluttershy the herbs he’d collected saying “The garden by which you collect you herbs is now free and clear of monsters Fluttershy. If you ever need me for anything don’t hesitate to ask. The worst I’ll say is I can’t do it at that moment but will get to it when I’m free.” She nodded in response and he started for his coat saying “Well I’m off, girls if you need me you can find me at Berry’s bar.”

He grabbed his sword and coat sliding both on before heading out into the weather, which though not snowing at this moment, was chillier than he liked. He was very hot blooded as some would say and come winter he’d be hiding out in his home, or at a friend’s. He wasn’t the type to go out into the cold unless he had a mission only he could complete.

He walked to Barry’s after dropping his sword off at home, then ordered a hard cider and sat at a booth in the back. He zoned out after paying for his drink and sipping it letting his mind wander to the different females of town and how even the mayor had been a part of the mob. He knew most of them were as old as if not slightly older or younger than himself. He smiled as his mind wandered and he didn’t notice when someone sat across from him with a strained look on her face.

Author's Note

Well there you are longest chapter yet. As with other chapters it probably needs to be edited and I'd like any problems pointed out, but otherwise I hope everyone enjoys and comments on their thoughts. I still feel bad about Putting Jay through the things I put him through, but hey he has to build character somehow, don't want him becoming a gary stu after all.

Chapter 1: Waking up in the Everfree, Meeting Rainbow, and facing off with THEM!

Chapter 1: Waking up in the Everfree, Meeting Rainbow, and facing off with THEM!

Jay woke up about ten minutes after ending up in equestria and immediately had to hurl his guts out behind a tree. He wiped off his mouth and muttered “Ok so demon did weird magic, I got trapped inside, and now I’m here, wherever here is.” He got up and dusted off then blinked as he stared down at himself. His outfit was the same, albeit a bit shorter, and more, tight fitting. He pulled up the cowl of his cloak hiding his face in shadows. He grabbed his sword, which he’d dropped when he got up to puke, and started further into the forest when he was surrounded by creatures made of shadow. He swore and said “Of course the moment I wake up I’m surrounded by dark hounds. At least they haven’t combined with the local wild life of wherever I am.”

He swung his blade, with more strength than he was used to having, and cleaved a dark hound in two. The dark hounds were living shadows that took on the form of wolves. Jay hated the things, because they were a perversion of nature and magic. He himself had many of them under his belt of kills. He winced as one bit down on his shoulder and sent it flying back with a blast of magic. He blinked as it flew back and wondered what had happened to it. What Jay didn’t know he had a blood red horn on his head that was jagged and glowing with crimson light, the same crimson light that had surrounded the body of the dark hound.

He lunged forward piercing a dark hound’s chest causing the creature to collapse into shadows. He growled and swung his sword into another dark hound not noticing the mare watching him from on high. He was so focused on his fight he tuned out most of his surroundings other than the directions the hounds were in. Suddenly the hounds backed off as a figure walked out of the woods and said “So the little hunter survived Morten’s trap. You even managed to come to this Demen’s forsaken planet. I guess I’ll have to destroy you myself.”

Jay snorted and said “Try your worst; I won’t let scum like you destroy yet another world.” The mare on high wondered what they were talking about but kept out of it figuring that the stallion and his enemy weren’t her problem, but she couldn’t just leave. She had a feeling she was needed. Suddenly the hounds attacked the stallion from behind as the beast lunged from the front. The stallion turned and blocked both attacks with a knife and his sword. The mare gasped as he turned killing two of the shadow beasts with one strike then used an X block to stop the sword swung by the larger demon.

The demon was about a foot taller than the stallion, had black eyes, blue skin that was scaly in texture, a short white goatee, red hair that went down his back, and goat legs. He also had scaly wings that were bat like in shape. The stallion tried pushing his blade back but was overpowered and knocked the ground. The mare growled and thought to herself “That no good cheat!” She prepared to dive down and slam into the beast only for the stallion to stab it in the leg and roll to the side as it slashed down at his head.

The stallion, Jay, lunged up stabbing yet another hound wondering how there were so many of them gathered around when they normally took a lot of effort to sustain themselves, so they stayed in small packs of five or six. So far this pack had ten he’d slain and ten more waiting in the eves for him to be brought down by their master. Jay growled and stood up quickly wincing as he felt a burning pain in his shoulder. He looked over and saw it was dislocated so he moved to a tree and popped it into place, only for the dark hounds to attack him. He ducked one but the second clawed open his back.

He resisted the urge to cry out and grit his teeth then slashed upward decapitating the hound. He turned to the arch demon, for he could now tell that’s how high in the demon hierarchy was, and lunged at him only for his knife to be knocked out of his hand and sent flying into a tree. He held his sword with both hands in response and swung at the beast’s neck. It blocked the blade and cracks started to form along it. The blade had been damaged many times before, but it was almost as if the leap through time and space had structurally weakened the blade, that or all the wear he had put on it was finally catching up. Whatever the case may be his blade was on its last legs.

He swore vehemently and rolled as the beast thrust at his face then parried a second swing and grabbed his knife. He buried it in the creature’s side before being pounced upon and pinned by a dark hound. He growled out “Coward! You can’t fight me fairly so you use your pets to pin me? I knew all demons were scum.” The demon just snarled pulling the blade out of its side,
It said “Maybe we should give you a parting gift and let you live, but first I should destroy your pesky sword.” It turned and stomped on the sword’s blade at the base breaking it off then picked up the blade, which was covered in its blood and swiped it down the stallion’s face three times curling each swipe to look like claw marks. Luckily he’d closed his eyes so the wound only cut the lid of the left eye and the area around it. As it prepared to finish off the stallion our watching mare could take no more.

Flying down with a rainbow contrail, she slammed into the demon causing it to drop the blade and tip forward. The stallion looked up with blood dripping down his face and pulled out his knife as the demon fell past then twisted and stabbed it into the hound’s head. The hound burst into shadows and he crawled to his feet, his wounds getting worse the longer he took to get treatment. The mare kicked out knocking another hound into a tree snapping its neck.

She noticed the demons blood was rusting the blade it had used to cut the stallions face and snorted. She picked up the stallion around the waist and took to the air. He struggled against her saying “Damn it! Put me down I need to finish them before they can call more hounds!!!” The mare just ignored him flying out of the Everfree and toward the nearest settlement. The stallion started to feel woozy and realized with all the blood loss and what not he was about to pass out.

The mare sighed and said “Look buddy I just saved your hide. The least you can do is be thankful and shut up so I can concentrate on getting us out of here. I don’t think the guy with the wings is quite ready to let you go.” Jay snorted then fell unconscious as he was about to reply. She looked down and saw that his eyes were closed then muttered “Way to go rainbow, you save the guy only for him to die of blood loss. Gotta get him to Ponyville hospital or else he isn’t going to make it.” She picked up the pace and arrived at the local hospital then carried him in. He was instantly sent to the operating room where they tried to patch him up.

While she waited to find out what the doctors could do, Rainbow felt herself shiver remembering the creatures he was facing. Those beasts made of shadow were no joke, and that big arch demon, she thought he called it, was oozing murderous intent. She didn’t know how he could stand up to them, let alone manage to get rid of so many. Though she was even more worried about what he said involving summoning more of them. They couldn’t do that without some kind of ceremony or something, could they?

Rainbow swore and started pacing waiting for the stallion to get out and tell her what he meant. She sighed as the doctor walked out about ten minutes later and said “He was lucky you got him here Rainbow.” Rainbow raised an eyebrow, her rainbow colored forelock brushed out of her eyes and her wings folded on her back. The doctor continued “Nurse Red Heart is currently working on him, but if you didn’t get him here when you did he may have died of blood loss. He’s also lucky whatever scratched his face didn’t take his eye. If you like you can continue to wait for him or you can head home. He may not wake up for a while.”

Rainbow thought about it and said “I think I’d rather stay here and wait for him to wake up. I have a few questions for him, and I figure I may as well let him meet the girl who saved his tail.” The doctor nodded and returned to the operating room as Rainbow sat back down and ran a hand through her rather long mane. Some would call her a tom-colt, but that was only because she could easily beat the boys. They couldn’t see past her awesomeness to the mare underneath. She sighed as she thought about it and closed her eyes leaning her head back against the wall. She couldn’t get the sight of the mysterious stallion she saved out of her mind. He was different, how different she didn’t know, but different nonetheless.

Suddenly the doors opened and she looked up to see Nurse Redheart wheeling a bed bearing the stallion she brought to Ponyville General into a room to heal. She followed the bed occasionally glancing around and seeing that no one was paying attention then she sat next to it when Nurse Redheart closed the door behind her after getting him settled in. She fidgeted slightly and watched the stallion carefully. He was about six to six and a half feet tall, had a dirty blonde mane, a deep red horn, showing he was a unicorn, that was about three or four feet long and looked like a blood stained sword blade.

The only reason that comparison came to mind was because of the sword he’d been wielding while he’d been fighting. She shivered at the memory and muttered “What kind of trouble are you in buddy? I mean yeah mares and stallions get into trouble around here, but nothing that requires a weapon unless they’re in the guard.” The stallion fidgeted slightly and she noticed how he had a firm, yet lean, yet muscular build to him. Almost like a Pegasus in the way his muscles were spread across his frame, yet he was as tall as an earth pony, while having the slimmer build of a unicorn. It was hard to tell and without his horn you could slap a pair of wings on him and he’d just be a big Pegasus pony. Just take the horn and he’d be a compact earth pony, though not too compact.

She shook her head trying to rid it of the thoughts that plagued her only for the stallion on the bed to groan. She looked at him and asked “You awake, stud?” The stallion groaned again and reached up only to gasp in pain as his right arm locked up. He lowered his arm and used his left hand to brush his mane out of his eyes. He slowly looked around and Rainbow said “In case you’re wondering you’re in Ponyville General.” He looked at her his eyes going back and forth between dark green and slate gray. Rainbow was mesmerized by his eyes so she lost track of what she was going to say.

Jay, the stallion, looked at her and asked “Something wrong?” Rainbow shook her head and he winced as the light hit his eyes and he held his hand to them. He groaned and said “Oh that feels like a massive hangover. Why the heck are my eyes so sensitive?” Rainbow blinked as his eyes closed and coughed looking away with a slight blush. She glanced down and saw he was in a hospital smock, which still somehow showed his physique.

Rainbow coughed slightly and said “Maybe your eyes are so sensitive because of whatever was on the blade that thing used on your face.” Jay opened his eyes and stared at her trying not to wince as the light hit his eyes again and they turned a deep blue that seemed to be a raging storm. Rainbow again got lost and said “How do your eyes change like that?”

Jay chuckled and closed his eyes rubbing them as they adjusted better to the light and replied “They naturally change color. Sometimes it’s because of my mood, other times it’s because of the environment, and others still it’s because of my health.” Rainbow nodded as Jay’s eyes turned grey again and he continued “So, how’d I get here? Last thing I remember is being on the ground slamming my blade into a hound’s neck.”

Rainbow blinked and said “That’s what those shadow things are called, hounds?” Jay nodded and started to explain then screamed and held onto his left eye, blood leaking out between his fingers. Rainbow gasped and called out “NURSE REDHEART WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY!!!” Nurse Redheart burst into the room and instantly applied bandages onto the side of Jay’s eye. Jay gasped in pain and held back another scream gritting his teeth his right eye turning gold. He snarled like a beast and Nurse Redheart used a spell to make him fall into a magic induced coma.

Redheart asked “What happened Rainbow?” Rainbow struggled to explain what had happened still not comprehending what had happened to the stallion’s eye. Redheart continued “I know you didn’t do anything, I would have seen blood on your hands if you had touched him. Also you wouldn’t have called me if you did something to the patient. So tell me what happened?”

Rainbow Dash sighed and said “I don’t know what happened. One minute I was staring into his eyes and asking him about the things that hurt him, and the next he’s screaming as his face starts bleeding from the cuts on it.”

Redheart raised an eyebrow and said “You mean the claw marks, right?” Rainbow Dash shook her head and explained what she saw. Nurse Redheart cursed and started to remove the gauze then used magic to study the cuts. Her Diagnostic spell revealed that yes, it was done by a bladed instrument rather than claws like the doctor and she had originally thought, it also revealed that there was some kind of substance in the wound preventing it from healing properly.

Rainbow Dash looked at Redheart and asked “What are you going to do now?” Redheart sighed trying to decide what to do. If they left it he could die from constant blood loss, but if they weren’t careful they could expand the damage to his face. She was torn. Her Hippocratic Oath was to do no harm and help a patient to the best of her ability, however if she did nothing she’d be breaking that oath.
She sighed and said “I’ll take him into the operating room and try to remove the poison or whatever it is from his system, but no matter what he’ll always have scars on his face. Not that they make him less attractive, they actually make him look rather dashing. Kind of like a rogue hero.”

Rainbow Dash found herself nodding along then said “I guess I’ll go home and come back in the morning. Good luck Redheart.” Redheart nodded and rolled the stallion out of the room while Dash watched her go. Dash sighed and walked out of the hospital then flew to her cloud home and fell into a deep sleep.

As rainbow slept she dreamed of the rogue hero as Redheart called him. She dreamed of his fight, but not being able to save him in time as well as his injuries. However the dream changed as time went on and she found herself walking alongside the stallion talking with him. She couldn’t hear his words but the dream version of her smiled and cuddled up to him, though she felt ashamed of herself. She groaned and thought “Man, what about this guy could possibly make me act like a filly with her first crush. It’s as if something about him reacts with my own inner beliefs.” She woke up the next morning feeling rested and got out of bed then cleared the skies of Ponyville.

She hurried to Ponyville General and saw that the operating room’s light was out meaning they were done operating. She walked up to the receptionist, Candy Mane, and asked “Which room is the stallion I brought in yesterday in?” Candy looked up from her magazine and smiled at Rainbow. Rainbow smiled and said “Sorry to be so blunt Candy but I wouldn’t feel comfortable until I know he’s ok. I know I brought him here and should trust the docs, but you know how I am about hospitals.”

Candy giggled and said “It’s ok Dash. I understand. I would be worried about any pony I brought in too. He’s in your old room. I’m sure you still know the way there. I think they removed the coma spell they put him in and let him get some regular sleep over night.” Rainbow nodded and thanked Candy then walked to the stallion’s room.

She walked in and saw him sitting up in bed rotating his left shoulder and heard it pop a few times. She shivered at the sound and shook her head in disgust, then said “I see you’re awake. I also just realized I didn’t introduce myself yesterday. My name’s Rainbow Dash, Fastest flier in ponyville.” He raised an eyebrow and she asked “Who are you?”

He smirked and said “Jay Wolf. Demon Hunter extraordinaire; and the last surviving member of the flaming hearts pack.” She looked at me confused and I said “A group I was the alpha of back in my home town.” Jay knew it wasn’t wise to tell people he was from another world, but he wasn’t sure where ponyville was. So instead of saying what world are we on he asked “What country are we in?”
Rainbow blinked and said “We’re in Equestria. You must be from Saddle Arabia or something right?” Jay shook his head and she asked “Then where you from Jay?” Jay looked away unconsciously rubbing the scar over his left eye, and mumbled something. Rainbow didn’t understand so she asked “What was that?”

Jay sighed and said “I’m actually from a town out in the middle of nowhere. So who is the ruler of Equestria? Also what can you tell me about Equestria in general?” Rainbow smiled thinking that she could explain a bit about her home and her princess at the same time.
She said “Princess Celestia is the ruler of Equestria. Actually in about a year, maybe less, we’re going to be hosting the summer sun celebration here in ponyville. It’ll be the thousandth one.” Jay nodded slowly and had a feeling that this was important so he decided he’d start studying up on this world’s history as soon as possible. Rainbow continued “I’m Ponyville’s weather team’s main mare. That means I’m in charge of the weather of ponyville. Equestria’s a pretty big place with a lot of big cities and what not as well as small towns like Ponyville scattered all over.” Jay yawned and she finished “If you want to learn more just head to the local library. Of course to really learn everything you can you’ll have to Canterlot, Manehattan, or Baltimare to see the museums and bigger libraries. Anyway you should get some more sleep. I’ll see you around Jay.”

Jay nodded and waved her goodbye as she left then closed his eyes and drifted off. Meanwhile Rainbow talked with Nurse Redheart to find out when he’d be released and if he said anything while he’d been out of it. Nurse Redheart revealed he had no prior history, so now it was up to someone else to give him a place to stay and take him to Mayor Mare.

Author's Note

Well there's chapter two. Everyone's favorite rainbow mare shows up and saves Jay's tail. Then we find out the demon blood can cause more harm than good when inflicting a wound. Of course that's why Jay usually cleans his sword. The fact he couldn't before it broke just shows how unlucky he is. All that said I hope you enjoyed.