It’s been two days. Think that it’s safe Bael? I asked, to which I heard. What am I, a fortune teller? Open the door and find out. I sighed, it took me awhile but I finally got that voice in my head to talk to me. Apparently he was a spirit that contracted with my ancestors millennia ago and gave them great power and council. He passed to each first male born in my line at a certain age and I was the current bearer. Pass that he refused to speak, especially about the fact I was able to overpower an earth pony. Seeing that I couldn’t really do anything physical, I supposed he would tell me when he needed to.

Back to the portal of hell located right in front of me. I reached forward and slowly unlocked my door, I cringed as I heard the click of it unlocking. I grabbed the handle and with a deep breath pulled it open. I froze as I saw Octavia standing frozen in shock as she looked as she was reaching for my door handle. I gave a nervous chuckle, “Hey Octavia.” I said, lost for any other words. Octavia snapped out of her trance as tears started roll freely, just before she tackled me and began to sob.

“A-andrew I’m s-so sorry! I-I don’t know w-what came over m-me!” Octavia choked out through her sobs. I was about to respond before I felt the air in my lungs quickly expel as another weight crash into my chest… It was Vinyl, a very irate one at that if the shaking of my collar was any indication.

“YOU! Do you know what I’ve had to deal with because of you!?” Vinyl yelled, Octavia had been push to the side and was staring in another round of shock. “I had to lock up the bar because she was so needy I couldn’t make it out of the house!” Vinyl continued as she pointed an accusing finger at Octavia. “You owe mebig time, do you hear me!?” I gave a jerky nod as Vinyl hadn’t stopped shaking me the entire time. Once I had she released me and I hit the floor with a thump. Vinyl stood up from the straddled position she had been in while throttling me, as she did she extended a hand to help me up. I took it and she helped me to my feet. Once I was Vinyl turned around as her horn gave off a cyan glow, mirrored by the collar of my shirt just before I got yanked forward. Vinyl lead me by the collar, literally, until I was seated on the couch in the living room. Once I was Vinyl sat down on my left and motioned for Octavia to join us. Octavia gave a worried look but obeyed and sat on my right.

“Now then, how about we settle this before it becomes a problem.” Vinyl said before continuing. “Now, Octavia You’ve apologized so the next part is talking about what happened. Take your time.” Vinyl decreed as she crossed her legs and waited patiently for Octavia to speak. Octavia took a deep breath before she started.

“I don’t really know what came over me. It was almost like I was in heat, but my thoughts were of affection not desire, though with how strongly it was it’s hard to discern a difference.” She explained. She took a breath to continue but I cut in.

“Octavia I know you weren’t yourself. You were influenced by what’s known as hero-worship syndrome, it occurs when a victim develops overly strong feelings for their rescuer. When I rescued you at the bar it must have triggered something and that’s why you did what you did. I knew if I didn’t stop you the syndrome would have set in and it would eventually end in disaster.” I said.

Vinyl nodded as she thought before looking at me and asking, “Hey wait a minute, just how did you stop her? All I saw was Octavia pounding on your door after you locked her out. I doubt you noticed that quickly, and from what Octavia told me you managed to throw an earth pony not only off you, but all the way from your bed to outside your door. How the hell did you manage that!?”

“Adrenaline, nature's superhuman drug.” I lied, to which Vinyl didn’t seem to buy anyway, so I continued. “I guess I freaked out enough that my body produced such a large boost of it that I was able to manage the feat. I don’t how to explain it past that. It’s not like humans can do magic.” I said with a chuckle.

“What about those magicians? I’ve seen what a few of those guys can do. You saying that’s not magic?” Vinyl challenged.
I sighed, this was getting tiring. “Yes Vinyl, all humans can do is slight-of-hand. Some are so good that it looks like magic but in truth it’s all just a trick.” Vinyl stared at me in disbelief but she didn’t say anything.

“Ok then how about back at the bar? I saw the knife. It had a black aura when the blade heated up, and I didn’t see any unicorns using their magic. That would have been too obvious.” Vinyl countered.

Well shit, I don’t know anything about that either. Bael, did you have something to deal with that too? Yes, but now is not the time. Deflect the question. I thought about it. It didn’t feel right to lie about something like this, but considering I don’t know how it was exactly done either best to keep them in the dark. “I don’t know, maybe it was a unicorn in the back of the bar where the aura color blended in?” I passed off. I was so glad AJ wasn’t here right now. Vinyl searched me critically, but I managed to somehow keep it together. Vinyl sighed in defeat.

“Well that’s another theory down the drain. I guess all those stories about some humans learning magic was bunk.” She said as she laid her head on my shoulder. “I’m too tired to argue anymore. I think I’ll just lay here awhile.”

Ok I should probably look into that at some point. I leaned back and relaxed as well, thanking god for dodging the metaphorical bullet. Octavia leaned on my other side; once she shifted and got comfortable she asked, “Hey Andrew can I ask you something?”

“What’s up Octavia?” I replied, too exhausted to even move to look at her.

“Do you think mares are pretty?” My lungs froze at the question. Nothing good comes from this kind of question.

“Why do you ask?” Smooth~. Oh shut it.

“I remember you said you cared for Vinyl when we were talking after you woke up from your coma, but you never really said anything past that. Then when I try to… uh, seduce you… you seemed to resist me so easily.”

“You thought that was easy!?” I said shocked, only after which I realize I had nearly yelled my retort. I gave a light cough as I recomposed myself. “Ahem. Really now?”

Octavia gave me a slightly stunned stare but continued. “U-uh yes. I mean I know we’re basically aliens to each other so I can understand if you didn’t see us as compatible.” She sulked. “I should have known there was no chance, even if the feeling had been real… We must be freaks to you.” Octavia said turning as she started to get up to leave.

“That’s enough!” I said sternly. Octavia froze before slowly turning to face me. Vinyl had long since removed herself from my shoulder to listen intently to the discussion. “I’ll have you know that I don’t care what race my future spouse is part of. As for you and Vinyl, you’re both very beautiful mares.” I exclaimed fervently, and without thinking I added. “I’d have no problem marrying either one of you!”

... … … Oh shit, did I say that out loud? Yep. Shut up you! One look at the twin blushes on either side of me confirmed it. Vinyl was the first to recover.

“Oh ho, is that so? I didn’t realize you had such strong feelings.” She teased, fluttering her eyelashes in the most girly way she could.

“I-in your dreams, I was just using you as an example. I might care about the both of you but that doesn’t equate to love.” I stuttered, floundering to recover my dignity.

Vinyl apparently could read me like a book, because she didn’t relent in her assault. “Oh really? Then what about how you went on a rampage when that prick threatened Octy. That was an unusual way to act don’t you think?”

“She’s my friend, why wouldn’t I have saved her?” I replied defensively.

“I didn’t say that. I said you looked ready to kill him if we hadn’t stopped you.” Vinyl leaned in with an accomplished smirk.

I lowered my head. I know she couldn’t have known, but that comment cut deeper than she’d ever know, hopefully. “I-I think I’ll go for a walk.” I said as I tried to stand, only to be stopped by Octavia.

“Andrew are you alright?” She asked, gentle concern flowing from her tone. Even Vinyl gave a worried look at seeing my reaction.

I didn’t have the will to keep lying so I dodged instead. “I’ll be back later, don’t wait up.” I said, shrugging off Octavia’s hand. I walked towards the front door but as I reached for the handle it disappeared with a pop and flash of cyan light. I turned around to see Vinyl holding the handle as she gave me a stern look. I looked at her, tired from the talk, and said, “Vinyl please put that back. I don’t want to do this right now.”

“Well too bad.” She said as she set the door knob on the counter and stalked over to me. I looked down at her with a no doubt hollowed eyed stare as her expression grew angrier. “I’ve had it with the up to here with your incessant dodging!” She said throwing her arms up in exasperation.

“Well how about this! Maybe I’m keeping my mouth shut because if I told you, you’d never look at me the same again!” I countered, raising my voice and taking a step forward, causing Vinyl to step back in surprise. Only momentarily before she steeled herself and push back into me.

“I don’t care what you think. You are going to sit down and tell us what is wrong whether you like it or not.” She said as her horn lit up. The glow encompassed me as Vinyl levitated me back to the couch. She laid me down and I felt my head land on something softer that the cushion. I looked up to see Octavia looking down with a heavy blush but also concern. I tried to move but Vinyl hopped on my legs and Octavia held down my shoulders.

“I’m sorry Andrew but Vinyl’s right. Please tell us what’s wrong.” Octavia pleaded, giving me her best puppy dog stare.

That level of cute should be illegal. I thought as I took a deep breath. It doesn’t look like I can escape. “Fine, doesn’t look like I have a choice anyway.”

“Nope, now get talking.” Vinyl said pointing an accusing finger at me.

I sighed, “I assume you’d like to know why I got so angry when that stallion head Octavia hostage?” The mares nodded. “Well to truly understand there’s a part of my past that you need to hear.” Vinyl and Octavia looked at each other passing some unsaid message before looking back at me to continue.

Three Years Ago

“Hey Zoe it’s getting a little late don’t you think?” I asked my cousin/sister. We had spent the evening bouncing from one club/bar to the next celebrating Zoe’s twenty-first birthday, and my sixteenth. Yeah we had a party but Zoe, always the party girl, wanted more. So as a present to me she let me tag along on her late-night-after-party escapades, as a way to escape the dreaded confines of my step-mother’s house. It was currently almost two in the morning, but Zoe couldn’t have cared less with how drunk she was.

“Ahh come on Wolfy. I knowww you don’t really want to go back to that hag.” Zoe drunkenly slurred. I always had an, almost unhealthy, fascination with wolves, so much so I would’ve never been caught dead without some form of clothing or accessory with a wolf on it. Even now I still wore a small silver wolf head necklace on a silver chain underneath my shirts. Even so, I thought the nickname was a little much.

“No I don’t, but I could always stay over at your place. Come on Sis, I’d like to get out of here before my paranoia sets in.” I said as I followed Zoe around, the increasingly fewer street lights along the street not helping calm my nerves.

“Fine I’ll take the heat from that old bag, but as payment we go to one more club. Come on I know one that’s right around the corner!” Zoe pepped up before ducking into an alleyway that led to an adjoining street.

“Zoe! Wait up!” I said before chasing after her, only to slam right into her before falling on my ass. “Hey what’s the matter… with you…” My voice died off as I saw a guy dress like John Travolta from grease, easily six-five, standing imposingly only a foot in front of us.

“You know what Andrew? I think you’re right, let’s go home.” Zoe said with profound sobriety as she turned on her heels and drug me up by the collar as she went to exit the alley. Only to be blocked by two other thug knockoffs, these guys only a meager six feet tall, leaning on either side of our only way out. That paranoia I was talking about, yeah… it was in overdrive.

Whatever they were planning to do: mug, kidnapping, rape, murder. None of the scenarios in my head were playing out with very many sunshine and rainbows.

“Hey now we just want’a have a little fun. Just run along scamp, we’ll take good care of your sister.” The boss said in a deep bass voice. He pushed me aside as he stepped towards Zoe.

I stared at him as he took another step towards Zoe and thought just three words. How. Dare. He! I might be a coward, but no one threatens my family! Not even that old hag of a sea witch I call a step-mother, I have plans for that bitch. “No.”

“Hmm, what was that?” He paused as he turned to look at me.

“I said no. You thugs aren’t touching my sister.” I said before placing myself between them and Zoe.

“Wolfy what do you think you’re doing!?” Zoe quietly seethed. “Get out of here! I’ll deal with this.”

“Not happening, I’m not abandoning you!”

The boss broke out in a fit of laughter. “Look boys, we got ourselves a hero!” The minions let out their own, admittedly stereotypical, evil laughs.

“Well I’m sorry kid,” The boss started cracking his knuckles as he walked closer, “but it’s time for you to go to,” Sleep. That final word darkly echoed throughout by body. I never felt the punch connect.

Present

“And according to what I found out, it never did.” I concluded my flashback. Vinyl and Octavia stared in confusion.

“And what the hell is that supposed to mean?” Vinyl asked, even more confused with that last statement than the entire rest of my story. Ok he went out with his sister, was about to get mugged or worse, and then stood up to the bad people. Sounds like the Andrew I know.

“I was getting to that.” I explained. “You see, according to what my sister told me, and the testimonies of the thugs when we went to court, I hospitalized all three of the thugs, the leader was in critical condition.” The mares gasps at the thought their friend, even through his occasional outbursts, he would never injure someone to that degree. “Apparently the moment I blacked out, something took over. I caught that thug’s fist with one hand and with a flick of my wrist I dislocated his shoulder. When his buddies tried to help him I apparently jumped back and flipped over their heads and knocked them out with a split kick. Gave them concussions just from that if I remember the medical report, cracked their skulls on the concrete when they fell I know.” I said with a small chuckle. Vinyl was shocked, while Octavia was barely able to hide her distain at my past.

Yep, I thought so. Well so much for them accepting that part of me. “That was part one. Big boss, the one with the dislocated right arm, charged me after I knocked out his buddies. From what babble they were able to get out of my sister, since she was the only one to remember it in its entirety, I beat that guy so close to death he ended up having to be resuscitated three times before he stabilized. Stayed in a full body casts for three months, and that was after the multiple surgeries to save his life.”

Now even Vinyl looked disgusted at my tale. She had long since moved off my legs allowing me to move. However I stayed put, leaving would come soon enough, so I continued. “When we went to court to imprison those muggers and my sister had to testify… heh, I still remember the description she used to describe me to the letter. ‘A monster… that thing was not my little brother. It must have seen some spirit possessing my brother. I saw soulless eyes where my brother’s once were, as he mauled that bastard into the pulp he is now. I won’t say I’m ungrateful from being spared…’ I remembered she broke down as she choked out the rest of her testimony. ‘I know they say everyone, victims and assailants, survived, but I know I lost someone that day. My brother is gone. That husk sitting there is not my brother!’ I remember she screamed while pointing directly at me.

“Since I was a minor, and the facts it was declared self-defense and no one actually ended up dead, I was sentenced to be put in the protective custody of my step-mother. Also I was put on a two year probation until I became a legal adult, during that time I was never allowed to go anywhere unescorted. Not that my step-mother let me leave my cage of a room anyway…” I looked at both the mares as I finished my tale. Looks of disgust had turned to ones of horror, I had no idea what was going through their heads but in my mind one thing was certain. Well it was nice while it lasted. There’s no way these mares could forgive a near-murderer.

On the contrary the mares had nearly the exact same thought process. How is he still sane!? No being should be subjected to such atrocities! Do the princesses even know about this? Andrew sat up finally and stood and wiped away a few tears that had managed to fall. He started towards the door, grabbing the handle as he did. He didn’t make it three steps before the mares made up their minds. With a nod to each other a silent plan was put in motion.

As Andrew put the handle back on the door he was again frozen by a shroud of cyan magic. He felt a slight tug just before he flew backwards, only to be caught in a combined embraces of Vinyl and Octavia as they tried to squeeze the life out of him. Andrew looked down to see both mares staring at him with eyes brimming with tears.

“Andrew, I’m so sorry I had no idea! Please don’t hate me for make you tell us.” Vinyl cried as she buried he muzzle in my chest, careful to avoid stabbing him with her horn of course.

“Vinyl’s not alone, I’m sorry too. We never wanted to hurt you. Will you please forgive us?” Octavia asked, staring him down with tear-brimmed eyes.

Andrew stared down at the mares as his thoughts raced. They’re sorry? How are they not disgusted with me? I’m a monster! No one should be forgiven for something like that. If it makes you feel better, you didn’t do it. W-what is that supposed to mean? My sister saw me do it! She saw your body, I was the one who was in control. That’s why you don’t remember a thing. Andrew’s mind was shot. This spirit, one he only just learned of its existence, had been controlling and manipulating him from that long ago. Yes and no. When I first transferred to you I was very weak, as is always the case when a transfer takes place. This being the case I had very little influence on you. It has only been since you came to this world that I’ve have begun to regain my true power. That one time I took over nearly exhausted all my power. That was the only time it happened. And It would have been impossible if I hadn’t fed on your emotions to ensure the takeover in any case.Should I worry about it happening again, since you say you are gaining power? Fear not, I can’t overtake you without your permission. Even if I do, spirits like me expend tremendous energy when we control a being. It is impossible to ensure permanent takeover unless you surrender your soul to me. I’ll be sure to remember that.

“Please just let me go. I can’t stay here.” Andrew wheezed, trying to shake himself of the mares, only to have them hold him tighter.

“No! You aren’t leaving again. I won’t let you!” Vinyl yelled into his chest, determined to not be moved.

“Andrew we forgive you. Please don’t leave.” Octavia voiced as she nuzzled her head into his neck.

“No you don’t. I’m not worthy of forgiveness.” Andrew tried to contradict, as tears began to flow freely.

Vinyl tore herself away as she stared Andrew down with her piercing ruby eyes. “I don’t care what you think. We forgive you, and you aren’t leaving. Do you understand?” He gulped at the steel in Vinyl’s voice. He bowed his head in defeat. Vinyl returned to the hug for another moment before releasing him along with Octavia before both of the mares walked towards the kitchen. She looked over her shoulder and asked, “You coming Andrew? You’ve got to be hungry, you haven’t eaten for two days.” Andrew’s stomach rumbled at the mere mention of food. Vinyl laughed as Andrew followed the mares to the kitchen.

Octavia made some sandwiches for the trio and placed the food on the table, she also threw in a couple extra for Andrew. He wolfed down the food as the mares casually ate there, lunch? Dinner? Actually what time was it? Vinyl usually kept the curtains pulled and used the electric lights, making it impossible to tell time without a clock. Andrew turned to the clock that hung back in the living room to see it was half past four, presumably in the evening.

Andrew looked back at the mares to see them calmly eating their meals. “How can you be so calm about this? There’s no way you can see me the same after my story.” Andrew said as he thought, It’s not even the worse one I have. Vinyl and Octavia looked up at each other then back at me.

“You’re still on that?” Vinyl said with a laugh.

“Andrew, we forgive you. That was part of your past, plus you were protecting your sister. We don’t blame you, and you shouldn’t either.” Octavia said, putting a hand over mine for comfort.

“Yeah dude, we all have things in our past we aren’t proud of, me especially.” Vinyl commented, the last part slightly under her breath. “In any case you’re still the same friend we’ve always known. Now we just know you a bit better.” She perked up before grabbing my other hand.

The warmth and friendship emanating from the mares finally became too much as the dam to Andrew’s emotions finally broke. Tears fell as he gave a sniff before speaking, “You’re too good to me. What did I ever do to get friends like you two?”

The mares gave a smile before replying in unison, ““You were yourself.”” Before Vinyl added, “Your cold, closed off, moody, bad-boy, honor-defending, musical, stupid self.” She said with the cheesiest grin. The room was silent for a few seconds, just before they all burst into laughter. Finally everything was looking like it was back to normal. Hopefully it could stay like that for longer than a week, but sadly that decision was up to fate. Though fate seemed to be shining a bit brighter than usual, at least in Andrew’s mind.

Author's Note

And the aftermath is resolved, yay~

So I hope that answers some questions, and maybe makes a couple more for those of you more observant readers. I like how this turned out for the most part. I usually will go back and edit my chapters if I notice something or think of something that will improve the story, even long after publishing the chapter(I still go back to chapter 1 now and then). So keep an eye out if something doesn't fit the plot from previous chapters from what you remember, I probably went and changed it.

Next chapter is when I start getting to what most of you probably came here for, a good OC x Vinyl/Octavia story. I hope to continue to meet or exceed your expectations and that you'll continue reading as I continue this story.

Thanks everyone, stay awesome! Lyruil out.