It was a nice clear day the summer sun felt warm on my face and the breeze tickled my ears. I couldn’t get over the calm, the safety, and tranquility. “Maybe I can get used to this”. I thought to myself as I looked down at my reflection. I was wearing my navy blue open jacket that stopped just above my belt; it had six pockets on the chest three on each side of the buttons as well as a hood. Underneath I wore a simple black short sleeve tunic with two pockets on the chest. My trousers match the color of my jacket with a pocket on each thigh and the side of my shins. The jacket and pants had an embroidered vine and leaf pattern on them. The belt I wore I wouldn’t leave home without if I had the option having nearly more pockets than even I knew what to do with. Looking at my face in the reflection I see my brown eyes and gray fur as I run my hand through my darker gray mane. I know by pony standards I’m rather tall at six feet even but it can’t be helped. I rub my bare my forehead as I wonder how my looks will stack up. Deciding no point in putting it off anymore I grab my bag which held everything I own at this point and turning from the park pond I start heading for the center of town. My hooves clopped against the ground as I look up at the sky it only being an hour or two past sunrise. Keeping my ears on a pivot I picked up what is mostly idle chatter as I enter the town popper. Most of the buildings were bright, colorful, and roofed with thatch so at least that’s familiar. Something does strike a nerve with me thought when I fully notice the extremely unbalanced gender ratio. I was barely some fifty meters into town and had seen nothing but mares. The occasional hushed whisper about my height that I picked didn’t help either and when I began hearing mares giggle only made it worse. Putting on my best chess face I continued walking pretending like I hadn’t heard a thing. I could see the large oak tree in the middle of town and from the looks of it I’d have to go through a market to get there. But that was fine with me markets were a great place to get information. However since I had plenty of time I decided to map out the area.

While I was walking I could feel my tail that matched my mane was twitching nervously same with my ears. Coming into the market I could see a number of simple wooden stalls lining the market square with an elaborate fountain in the center that I was walking to and took a seat on the raised edge. Sitting my bag on the ground I looked around the square as I pulled out my journal and pen I began sketching one of each tribe as I took in the sites. The vendors were selling nearly what I would expect hay, fruits, vegetables, and assorted odds and ends nothing out of the ordinary. Craning my ear to the side I overheard an exchange over some apples. The fact that it was barter and bragging made things easy for me, nothing new to adjust to. “It’s too bad I suck at it.” I thought to myself as my face fell looking over my sketch. It looked bad really bad but since I was more focus on the surroundings I didn’t feel bad about it. As I flipped to the next page a giggle caught my attention and turning my ear in that direction it was a pair of mares of course.

“My my look at what came into town.”

“I know he’s even taller than Big Mac.”

“Must be the local stud….did I really just make that pun?” I thought to myself.

“He’s not bad looking either thou its shame he’s not that muscular thou.”

“True but still he came into town by himself maybe looking for a herd to settle down with.”

“Herd? Okay is that code for something?”

“I hope so but doesn’t look like it he’s way too covered up for that.”

“Good point and he doesn’t seem all that confidant about his appearance either. I mean a jacket in the middle of summer? Makes me wonder what he’s hiding under his clothes.”

“Nothing you’re going to find out about.”

“Let’s go over and talk to him maybe he’s just shy and fragile looking for strong mare to protect him.”

“Oh yes of course that would be prefect lets go talk to him.”

“Okay time to leave.”I thought to myself as I stuffed my journal and pen back inside my pack. Standing and taking my pack with me I started heading to the oak tree when the rapid clopping of hooves from behind got my attention. It took everything I had not to fallow my first instinct which was to run like hell. The two mares quickly got in front of me letting me get a good look at them for the first time. They wore pleasant smiles but I could see something of a predatory gleam in their eyes it was unnerving. Luckily I was pretty sure I knew a way to scare them off without causing a scene. I slowly gave them a wide predatory smile showing off a mouth full of jagged serrated teeth. Their eyes went wide with horror before promptly rolling into the back of their heads fainting and landing with a thud.

“Okay maybe that was a bit much. Why I do always have problems when put on the spot?” I thought as a small crowd began forming and murmurs began flying. Deciding it was best to get moving I made a beeline for the library. It didn’t take long to get there my ears let me know that there was a group starting to fallow me. I was however caught off guard when I noticed that the library was not next to the massive tree like I thought but in fact was the tree. Shrugging I approached the door and knocked firmly a few times. In a matter of moments the door was opened by a short purple dragon and I offered him a friendly fangless smile.

“Hello this the local library?’

“Yup come on in and welcome to Golden Oaks Library, need any help finding anything?” He smiled back and motioned to enter.

“Not right away I’d like to look around for a bit first.” I said as I walked inside.

“Alright then just let me know if you need any help names Spike by the way.” He offered a hand shake.

“Call me Gray Mane.” I knelt down and shook his hand.

Standing up straight once more got my first look around. It was about what I was expecting book shelves carved right into the hallowed out tree trunk. It was brightly let up thanks to the many windows letting the sun light in. It looked spotless like an entire army of maids had been cleaning the place. I noticed there was a small amount of noise coming from a small corner where I saw a purple unicorn mare franticly flipping though a number of books. She seemed stressed her mane was disheveled and while I couldn’t see her face I suspected she also had bags under her eyes. But seeing as she hadn’t turned to greet me I ignored her for the time being.

“Oh before I forget we have important visitors coming to the library later so please try and not make a mess.” The little drake spoke as I walked over to a bookshelf away from the mare in the corner.

“Alright ill keep the place tidy then.” I waved over my shoulder letting him know I heard him. Upon reaching the shelf I noticed I couldn’t make even the slightest sense of the writing on the spines of the books. “Well this is a problem…”

“Huh what is a problem?” Spike asked walking over to me.

Sitting on the wood floor with my legs crossed I grumbled lowly and forced a blush to appear on my cheeks as I looked to him. “I…cant..read…” My voice trailed off to a whisper.

“You can’t read!?!” He nearly shouted this getting the attention of the purple mare.

“Spike please be quite I’m trying to work over here.” She paused for moment when she saw me. “Oh hello there need any help?” She asked as she stood up and began walking over.

“Twilight he doesn’t know how to read.” Spike informed her pointing a clawed finger at me this made the unicorn gasp bringing a hand to her muzzle.

“Spike you shouldn’t be so insensitive.” She chastised the dragon as she kneeled down next to me while I held my head down in fake shame. “Im so sorry about mister..uh.”

“Call me Gray Mane miss Twilight.” I said as I raise my head to look her in the face. She seemed to be a little caught off guard by me calling her by name.

“How do you know my name?” She asked suspicion in her voice and I simply pointed to Spike causing a blush appeared on her furry cheeks. “Oh right…but anyway if you don’t mind my asking how is it you don’t know how to read?” I opened my mouth to speak when the down burst open and a white unicorn stallion came inside. Laying his eyes on me he approached his spear at the ready and his golden armor gleaming in the light.

“Sir I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.” He spoke in an authoritive voice

“Have I been accused of a crime good sir?” I asked innocently which was a ligament question at the moment was.

“You attacked two mares in the market place I won’t ask you again.” He threatened as he pointed the spear in my face. I remained calm it wasn’t the first time I’ve had something sharp and deadly pointed in my face and probably wouldn’t be the last.

“Is smiling is considered an attack.”

“Wait wait wait what’s going on here?” Twilight and Spike both looked between me and the guard.

“As I said Miss Sparkle this stallion attacked two mares in the market.”

“What proof do you have?”

“Only a dozen or so witnesses now you’re coming with me.”

I narrowed my eyes and began growing on the inside as I started to stand an orange mare with a blonde mane walked inside.

“Now hold on a minute there buster he didn’t attack no pony those two mares just fainted for some reason and with those two aint no tellin’ what it was.”

“Which two Apple Jack?” Spike asked concern in his voice.

“It was Lily and Daisy.” The orange mare said crossing her arms.

At that the guard face palmed as he lowered his spear. “I should’ve known….My apologizes good sir.” With that he left without another word.

Confused as to why their names changed his demeanor so quickly I turned to the drake and two mares as I stood up. “Daisy and Lily?”

“They’re two of the three flower sisters here in Ponyville they’re also the resident scaredie ponies. I swear those two would faint at just about anything. Oh I’m sorry where are my manners I’m Apple Jack Apple I live on Sweet Apple Acres Just south of town.” She offered a smile and her hand I shook it firmly and told her to call me Grey Mane but she got a surprised look on her face. “My yea got quite the strong hand shake there.”

“Oops sorry about that I forget my strength sometimes.”

“Well now that that is settled back to the matter at hand.” Twilight looked up at me. “How is it you don’t know how to read?”

“Well…” I started as I rubbing the back of my head not wanting to lie to them but not wanting to tell the full truth yet. “I’d rather not tell you yet. Sorry it’s something of a private matter and I don’t want to go into it at the moment.”

“Oh okay…Gray if that’s how you feel.” Twilight said with her head tilted down slightly. If I didn’t know better id almost believe she was offended that I didn’t want to share with her. Then she perked up smiling at me. “Well if you don’t want to tell me that’s okay but would you like me to teach you?”

“I would greatly appreciate it.” Giving her a genuine smile as I lightly ruffled her already bedraggled mane. This made her blush slightly for some reason.

“Spike I need “The Foals Guide to the Alphabet” some parchment, ink, and a quill.” She smiled as she turned to the young purple drake and with a sharp salute he began running to the desk but I had to intervene.

“Just the guide book Spike I already have what I need to write everything down.” Pulling my journal and pen out of my bag I head over to a couch Twilight and Apple Jack fallowing close behind.

“Hold on sec sugar cube why would somepony that don’t know how to read have a book like that?” The farmer mare asked point to my book as I set it down on my lap Spike bringing the book Twilight asked him to and set it down in front of me. The librarian setting on one side of me and Apple Jack beside her spike sat on the opposite side of me and I could tell AJ question brought up the same in their heads.

“I’m something of an armature artist.” I said as I pulled a page out of my journal it was simple landscape ink paintings complete with a waterfall and not my best work what so ever.

“Wow that’s pretty good for somepony with no schooling.” Spike stated bluntly and while I couldn’t fault him it was true. However I couldn’t help but feel I had just been insulted.

“Spike! That was very rude!” Twilight scolded him and he dropped his head muttering an apology.

“It’s ok spike I prefer brutal honesty over pretty lies anyway.” I patted him on the head lightly. “Alright then let’s get started I want to learn to read before the sun goes down.” Twilight giggled trying to cover it with her hand Spike and AJ were basically in the same shape.

“What? I say something funny?”

“Oh no not at all Gray it’s just I think you have a great attitude to wanting to learn to read. But maybe it’s a little too unrealistic.”
I shot Twilight a cocky grin. “One hundred bits says I learn to read before dusk.”

“Gray there is no point in taking that bet id feel bad when you have to hand them over.”

“I’m a Quick Leaner it won’t take me long at all. I’ll even throw in a gem for spike here.” I grin as I pull out a ruby the size of my fist. The effect was instantaneous Spike’s mouth began to water as he looked to Twilight pleadingly.

“Oh…. alright but only for the ruby okay?”

I smile and hold my hand out to her. “Deal.” She shook my hand and began teaching me the Equestrain alphabet.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Apple Jack had left about 10 minutes into the lesson saying she had more work to do and it was just Spike and Twilight teaching me. In that time Twilight had seen the state of her appearance and combed her mane and straightened out her tail. It was truly a shame it was undone and hour and half later when I started reading a brief over view of Equestria’s history unassisted while sipping some tea. Spike made it for me in thanks for giving him the ruby anyway. I didn’t really need it in the first place so I didn’t mind. Twilight on the other hand was a mess again as she was franticly looking over the writing exercises I completed twenty minutes ago. She was muttering how it was impossible that I couldn’t have learned to read and write that quickly or neatly. This had been somewhat entertaining in the beginning but now I was starting to worry so I cleared my throat to get her attention.

“Twilight I told you I was a quick learner why are you so distraught over this isn’t it a good thing?”

Her head quickly snapped in my direction her right eye and ear was twitching. Her mane and tail had sprung back up in a few places to be honest she looked crazed which only made me even more cautious than I already was.

“Good? Good!?! This isn’t good Gray you learned an entire written language in just over an hour that’s!.....That’s! That’s like genius level intellect!” She nearly screamed at me as she jumped right in my face the papers from before flying all over the main room her crazed look only getting worse. I could hear Spike grumbling about having to clean up again and I looked over to him silently pleading him for help and I imagine I looked very uncomfortable. Thankfully he seemed to get the message and waddled over patting the unicorn on the leg getting her attention.

“Uh Twilight I hate to bring this up but it’s only a few hours till you know who gets here.”

This seemed to snap her back to sanity as she gasped and bolted right up the stairs. Luckily I had learned enough of the local terms to make a teasing joke at her expense.

“What? Hot date with her coltfreind?”

Spike let out a hearty chuckle as I began to help him clean up the mess. “Twi? Hot date? That’s a good one dude. I almost wished she would get out there and look for a stallion.”

“So whos this “you know who” charter?”

“Oh somepony that helped in the fight with Nightmare Moon a few nights back plus Princess Celestia is gonna be her to personally thank him.” We had now finished cleaning the mess and returned to the couch and me to my book at this point.

“I’ve read quite a bit about her now is it true she’s over a thousand years old?”

“Man you really did grow up under a rock didn’t you.”

“If you only knew how right you are.” I mumbled under my breath.

“What was that dude?”

“Huh? Oh nothing at all. So have you met her? What’s she like?” I asked already having a good idea what he’d say based on what I had read to this point. And sure enough he didn’t disappoint all accounts I had read painted her out as a motherly figure whose wisdom was only exceeded by her beauty and kindness.

“Hmm say Spike do you think it would be possible for me to meet her myself since Ill be here till you guys throw me out anyway.”

“I don’t see why it would be a problem we wouldn’t throw you out anyway dude.”

“Thanks little man.” I ruffled his spines in a friendly manner and he seemed to be taking it in stride. “Well I’m gonna grab a few books and use one of the private reading rooms is that fine?”

“Sure big guy need any help?”

“No I got it thanks though.” I smiled to him as I got up to gather the books I was looking for. A book on local laws, the history overview book, and because of what I heard from those mares at the market a book on herds. Taking my bag with me into the reading room I set down in the comfy arm chair I began reading. After what I could guess was around six hours my only indication of the time being the blue sky turning orange I found a number of things that had disturbed me greatly. For one thing Equestria has always been a matriarchal society. In the bad old days before the unifying of the three tribes stallions were seen as little more than slaves to be traded and used for hard labor. When I read that part I was ready to leave this place and never return. Second thing I noticed was that herding was simply what I had known to be a harem. This I was not really fond of, it sounded like it would only cause more problems than it would fix. But looking at it in another way since there wasn’t enough stallions to go around it made a small amount of sense. At something around one stallion for every eight mares ratio to me it was almost looking like a fight against extinction. Then there was the fact that around 60-80% of the mare population was bisexual made the herding sound a little more stable. Never mind the fact that I had to go back out to the main library to look up what that meant. After I did I simply took the dictionary back with me no point in making a fool of myself. But seriously this place is messed up. The rest being either gay or hetero. Stallions having a lot more rights now than they did back then helped to put my mind at ease even though the new way of doing things still took a lot of power away for the stallions. Once a stallion was in a herd the alpha mare could, if she really wanted to could ruin him in so many ways because she would have control. Laws were in the middle of being updated and revised to prevent that from happening. However it was over thousand years ago that slavery was abolished and some of those old laws were still in place as of last year going by the book.

Setting the books down rubbing my tired eyes as I thought about everything I had learned. The herding system, Luna’s thousand year banishment, slavery in the distant past, the abilities of the three tribes, the power that the alicorns supposedly wielded, and the fact that I’d be stuck here for one year. It nearly brought a sadistic grin to my face.

“Just what in the abyss have I gotten myself into?”

Resting my head in my hands I closed my eyes and just let the near prefect quite of the library fill my ears. I wasn’t sure how long it was that I just sat there in silence but I enjoyed it anyway. Then I could hear Spike heading to the front door where I could hear four voices all mares greet Spike as they entered the tree building. Adjusting my ears I picked up five sets of hoof steps given how light the fifth set was I assumed a foal or one that was just light on their hooves. I could hear Twilight nearly burst from her room and join the group down stairs. It wasn’t long after the sun had set that I heard a loud pop and seen flash of light under the door frame.

“She must be here then.” I grumbled lowly “I had really hoped that she wouldn’t show……oh well.”

At that point I could hear Spikes unique gate approaching the door to the room I was using. “Yo Gray the princesses is here.”

“Thanks Spike I’ll be right there.” I heard him start walking away and tell the group outside the door that I was coming and they asked if I was the archer. Twilight and Spike gave them the short version of what happened earlier. Putting the books in a neat stack I let out a heavy sigh and popped my joints stretching out a little I had a feeling I was going to need to be limber really soon. I ran my fingers through my hair once as I reached and grabbed the head band I had been wearing since I walked into Ponyville. With a quick thought the illusion fell away and showed me as I really was. Taking a deep breath I grabbed the door knob and twisted.

“No going back now.” I breathed as I opened the door stepping through.

Author's Note

Quick leaner- A feat in a D&D book that gives extra skill points but for the purpose here simply learns fast

Also if you think daisy and lily fainting from a fang filled smile is a little much ill just point you to Applebuck season. Stampeding baby bunnies is way less scary than a mouth full of fangs am i right? And if your wondering about the speed of the chapter updates. I've been kinda setting on thease new ones for a few weeks now.

Please enjoy everybody!