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.