Author's Note

Fair warning this chapter needs some editting as there's probably discrepancies between parts. I wrote it months apart and need to go back, so if it seems off, you'll have ot wait till I can fix it. Although if no one has any problems and wants it fixed I'll leave it as is. All depends on you guys. Thanks.

Chapter 8: Friends, Lovers, Loves, these are the things we need to be more than Men, Stallions, and Mares. (Draft 1)

I woke up the following morning without any memory of my dreams. I wondered if Luna and Artemis were responsible for the fact I couldn’t remember my dreams. I shrugged and stretched deciding it didn’t matter then pulled on a shirt and jeans before heading out to AJ’s farm to help her out. As I walked I noticed that my body wasn’t hurting. I glanced at my hands and saw they were more muscular than the day before, as was the rest of my body, as if three lifetimes worth of muscle were combined into my form. I let my fox tails form and wrapped them around my waist like a sash then pulled a baseball cap on my head letting my ears stick up through it so they looked like they were part of the cap. I yawned as I walked to the farm and knocked on the door. AJ answered and said “Well howdy pardner, what are you doing here?”

I raised an eyebrow and said “I’m here to work.” She stared at me and I said “Like yesterday?” She slowly nodded and called back to tell Mac she was going to work then led me back to the east field where we picked up where I’d left off. I stretched as I worked feeling my body react quicker, more easily, and more readily to my mind’s commands. Imagine you’ve been living underwater your entire life; now imagine you finally got into air. Your body would be moving faster than ever without the resistance of the water holding you back. I bucked a few trees feeling my body moving faster than I expected and stretched out my muscles smiling as the apples fell in the buckets. Applejack and I were finally on even terms. Usually she’d get two or three trees to my one. Applejack stared at me in surprise as we worked, but didn’t let her surprise stop her.

I smiled at her and she asked “How are yah keeping up with me Hun?” I shrugged and she sped up, without trying too hard, but I just kept pace with her barely using any magic. It was weird. I was bucking like an earth pony and enjoying every second of it. AJ stared at me as we finished the east field and said “You’re doin as good as Mac sugar cube.” I smiled at her and stretched then we finished off the field over the course of the morning before I was tackled by Bloom at lunch time. I chuckled and stroked her mane causing her to let out little huffs of delight. Applejack stared at her and said “Apple Bloom, yawl no better than to harass people like that.”

Bloom stuck out her tongue and said “I ain’t harrassin him. I’m just showing him that I like him.” I stroked her mane gently and scratched her pol making her sigh in relief and curl up on my stomach. I chuckled and stroked her back making her purr like a cat then hop off me and rush inside to eat lunch with Granny Smith. I chuckled again and AJ sighed.

Getting up I dusted myself off and said “Hey AJ, don’t be too hard on her. She makes me laugh and she’s too adorable to stay mad at.” She sighed and muttered about me being too soft and I chuckled again stretching out and heading back into the field to work on bucking more trees. AJ followed me after grabbing a bite and we started working on the north field. We had to stop around two o’ clock for AJ to go help Rainbow with her trick. I followed along curious to see what the trick would look like when it was done properly.

Sadly it was not to be as Rainbow was too busy checking me out when AJ jumped onto the platform and sent her flying into the library. I stared and said “WTF? That makes no sense. I got rid of your tiredness to a degree, why the hell wasn’t Rainbow ready?” I grumbled about how awesome the trick could have been then sighed and we went back to work. Applejack sighed and we continued working. I looked at her and asked “You ok AJ?” She nodded and I smiled at her then walked over and started rubbing her ears causing her to snort in pleasure. I smirked and said “Relax, I doubt Rainbow’s mad or anything.” She nodded and snuggled into my chest leaning on me. I stroked her ears humming softly. She suddenly seemed to realize what she was doing and hopped away blushing.

I chuckled and she said “Don’t tell anyone about this, please?” I nodded smiling and we got back to work with AJ avoiding meeting my eyes. I didn’t know why at the time, but I felt like I was onto something. I assumed, blindly though, that AJ felt nothing for me. I mean come on she’s a hard working farm mare, she wants a stallion who can keep up with her I told myself, I didn’t think about the fact she knew I could keep up with her, or that her little sister loved me, or even that Mac respected me. I just assumed she didn’t like me. I should have known better with how Granny hinted at things, how Bloom saw me, and how Mac seemed to know what his sister thought and agreed with it, but then again love is sometimes as blind as foolish mortals, or immortals in my case. AJ looked at me after we worked a while and said “So Jake, what happened to your friend Moonlight?”

I smiled and said “She’s in Canterlot visiting with family. Why, do you have something you want to learn from her?” She shook her head and I smiled then stretched again and the two of us finished up the field leaving only the west field, which was the largest of the four and would take days to harvest. I yawned as we walked back toward the farmhouse and said “You still want my help, or can I send the girls over while I spend some time with Pinkie and the others?” She shrugged looking anywhere but at me causing me to wonder what I did to offend her. I stroked her neck startling her and asked “You alright?” She nodded looking at the ground and I pulled her against my side saying “No you’re not. I don’t know what’s wrong, but you’re not alright. You are stressed for some reason but you don’t feel like you can talk to me about it. Just know you can tell me anything and I won’t judge.”

She smiled at me and said “Thanks Pardner, but there’s nothing you can help with. I’m going to head to bed, why don’t you go check up on Twi or something.” I nodded and kissed her cheek causing her to blush then headed to town humming a jaunty little tune. When I got into town I waved at the ponies I knew and blinked as Time Turner waved back then motioned for me to come over. I walked over to the stallion and he said “Good you’re closer to the Jake I know. I hope you realize that the vision you had was real.” I nodded and he said “Good, good. So why are you in town?” I pointed at the library.

He nodded slowly and said “Ah to see Miss Sparkle, interesting. I have a question, are you courting each other yet?” I blinked and shook my head. He hummed softly and said “Plan to court her?” I nodded and he grinned then said “Great she could use someone like you. Anything I can do to expedite the process?” I shrugged. He studied me and said “You’re not very talkative today yet you say so much. I admit I like that about you. I’ll let you get to talking to Miss Sparkle though, have a nice night.” I nodded and walked to the library while he went into his shop.

I knocked on the library door and Twilight answered and her face lit up when she saw me. I smiled and said, with a slight crack to my voice, “Hey Twi.” She hugged me and I smiled bigger then asked “Been that long, huh?” She nodded into my chest and nuzzled me I stroked her hair and said “You know ponies would get the wrong idea if you continue to hug me on your stoop.” She quickly let go and dragged me inside then locked the door behind me and went back to hugging me. I saw Spike looking on and waved congenially. He sighed and I smirked at him then stroked Twilight’s back as she rose onto her hind legs, putting her head even with mine, and wrapped her arms around my neck. I chuckled and said “Easy there Twi you might just break me if you aren’t careful.” She snorted and mumbled something about it being damn ear to break the unbreakable. I smiled sadly and whispered in her ear “Seeing you hurt would break me.” She let go of me in surprise and looked away blushing.

I smiled sadly thinking on that and when she looked at me questioningly and asked “Really?” I nodded. She looked away blushing and said softly “I didn’t expect that with how little we see of each other.” I smiled and stroked her mane then sat on her couch where she curled up with her head in my lap. I stroked her mane as Spike walked in and she said “Spike, you are doing alright, right?” He nodded and she smiled at him. He smiled back with only a little effort then said something about going to bed. I watched him go and sighed. She looked at me and said “You know it’s not your fault the two of us aren’t that close right now.” I snorted not believing her and she said “Really, it’s more that I won’t let him go after Rarity and we have been arguing because he thinks I’m overbearing.” I smiled slightly thinking that Spike sounded like a teenager. I thought about telling Twilight she was going to have to let him grow up eventually but decided to stay out of it for now.

I stretched and Twilight studied me carefully. I smiled at her and said “I should probably head home.” She shook her head laying it back in my lap and looking up at me with big pleading eyes. I blinked and said “What?” She just stared up at me and I sighed then said “Fine I’ll stay the night. However you have to explain it to Spike and I sleep on the couch.” She nodded and curled into me then closed her eyes and sighed. I wondered why she was so trusting of me. It made no sense especially to someone whose life had been torn apart by three different realities.

Twilight hugged me and said “You know I used to hear tales about you from princess Celestia. They were fairy tales or so I thought. I figured there was no way there was a creature called a human who could topple empires and would give himself for the smallest colt or filly. Then she started talking about how she knew one such creature and that he was special. She even showed me the statue of you in the gardens. She said that it was in memory of one of her best friends. I thought she meant that they had made up the stories about humans, but now I know she meant you. You know I think losing you, if she did lose you, hurt as much as losing Luna. What do you think?”

I smiled sadly and said softly “You’re probably right. Losing her best friend, and then losing her sister, it had to be hard on her. At least with Luna she probably knew she’d see her again if she could find the element wielders, with me she probably thought she’d never see me again till I went to Canterlot.” I chuckled at that and said “Boy were they surprised.” She smiled and curled up on my lap burying her face in my neck. I sighed and said “You’re going to have to go to bed some time Twily.” She looked at me questioningly and I said “I know that’s the nickname you’re family uses for you and when you act like a stubborn filly I’m going to use it too.” She grumbled but eventually sighed and hopped off my lap and I said “Night Twi, have sweet dreams. If you need anything I’ll be down here probably asleep.”

She nodded and said “Night,” before trotting up the stairs and going to bed. I pulled off my shirt and used it as a pillow finding the library’s interior to be just cool enough I didn’t need it. I started to close my eyes and slip asleep when my stomach started rumbling and I quickly bolted for the bathroom. I sat down on the toilet and held back a groan of pain. I closed my eyes and swore as my body seemed to rip itself apart. After about ten minutes I was finally done. I sighed and wiped then flushed the toilet and got up pulling up my pants and stretched. I opened the door to see Twilight standing there looking worried. I smiled slightly and said “Easy Twi I’m ok. I just had to use the bathroom. I’m going to go crash now.” She nodded and we traded places then she closed the door and I walked back down to the living room.

I collapsed on the couch again and closed my eyes breathing softly through my nose as I started to slip asleep. However before sleep could claim me I felt a hoof poke me in the shoulder. I turned my head and saw Twilight looking at me. I stared at her questioningly and she said “Jake, what are you going to do now?” I pointed at the couch and mimed going to sleep. She smiled slightly and said “I meant after you get to sleep. Are you going to leave in the morning, spend the day with me, what?” I shrugged not sure and she asked “Do you think you could spend the day with me?” I nodded yawning and she said “Alright I’ll let you go to sleep.” I smiled and patted her head making her blush. I knew she wasn’t that old, but she also wasn’t that young. She was probably in her late teens to early twenties. The others of the mane six were probably close to her age, at most two or three years older than her.

I closed my eyes and said “Twilight if you ever need anything don’t hesitate to ask. The worst I can do is telling you I can’t help. Doesn’t mean I won’t try, just means I won’t know how to or won’t have the ability and will try despite that. Now why don’t you head to bed, I know you want me to hang out tomorrow but if I get no sleep I’ll fall asleep on you and neither of us wants that. At least I don’t think you want that, I dunno.” I opened my eyes to see her smiling and said “I care about you deeply Twilight, and wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt you. Trust me on that, just I may do something you don’t understand because of who I am. That said I hope you accept that I won’t always be able to tell you everything that’s going on until after the fact. Now please let me sleep.”

Twilight nodded slightly and kissed my cheek then rushed upstairs. I smiled slightly and muttered “So adorkable.” I closed my eyes again and slipped asleep finding myself in a replica of my ranch back on earth. I sat down in the couch and turned on the TV only to have Luna and Artemis walk up and sit on either side of me. The TV played back my memories. I sighed and said “So what have you two been up to since we last talked?” They looked at each other then at me then back at each other. Eventually they shrugged and curled up against me making me blink and go “That answers my question not at all, it just makes me want to cuddle you two for the rest of the night, but first I must know, who’s dreams have you been watching?”

Luna and Artemis looked at each other then said “Those you’ve helped lately.” I raised an eyebrow and they said “First young Scootaloo’s dreams, where she was flying with Rainbow Dash. Then Miss Flight’s dreams of holding her daughter and watching her grow up as she prepared to pass on. Followed by Applejack’s dreams, which involved you, and we’re waiting for young Twilight Sparkle to fall asleep so we can see her dreams.” I nodded yawning and holding them close then mumbled Tia’s name. They smiled again and Luna said “Sister’s been dreaming about going on a date with you.” Artemis smirked and said “Cadance has been dreaming about introducing you to her friends.” I shivered at the two of them and nipped Arty’s ear causing her to moan softly in pleasure. I smirked and nibbled the ear seeing Luna looking away blushing. I rubbed her tail while still nibbling Arty’s ear and she whipped me in the face with it. I blinked surprised and she said “No.”

I stared at her challengingly with Artemis’ ear in my mouth and my teeth biting down making her pant. She looked at me and said “Jakey Stop.” I released her ear and looked at Luna who was staring at Artemis due to how needy and begging she sounded. Artemis blushed and said “Not my fault Lulu. He knows my buttons, how to push them, and what it takes to get me to beg. I’m amazed he isn’t trying to find yours but maybe he thinks you feel as young in mind as you are in body, even if you’re the same you were when you were sixteen now.” That was surprising, Luna had definitely gotten bigger, but her legs filled out more and honestly she was a lithe little princess. I kissed her on the lips making her smile and Artemis said “See he doesn’t think you’re too young.”

I kissed Luna again and said “Why would you feel I think you’re too young?” She sighed and wouldn’t meet my eyes her mane covering one of them. I pushed her mane to the side causing it to blow in an ethereal wind as the stars filled it and said “I love you Lulu. I don’t love only you, but I can’t help but love you. You’re story speaks to me. Tormented by the past, hating who you were, regretting everything, yeah I know how you feel. I don’t blame you, even if I wasn’t here for it. All you need is friendship, love, and trust to prove you’re not a monster. I already know you’re not one so I don’t have anything in my heart for you other than love and trust.” She smiled blushing slightly and licked my cheek then ran off. I chuckled and said “Silly Lulu.”

Arty watched me and said “So she’s silly is she?” I nodded and she said “I agree, though she has the chance to let her anger at herself go, she doesn’t even blame me, she just blames herself. She’s the most accepting of me.” I smiled and held up a hand then made a black and a blue rose bloom twining them together. She nodded and said “Yes, light and dark, two halves of the whole. Celestia is starting to see that now.” I smiled slightly and kissed her muzzle. She blushed and said “You know you’re so strange.” I looked at her confused. She smiled and said “You love every girl who lets you into their heart and love them all equally. You don’t know how to tell them no. Tia, Luna, Cadance, Twilight, Me, you love all of us. You just don’t know how to tell the others though the fact you told Luna you love her surprised me. I know you love me, have known since I saw into your mind, Tia has an inkling of your feelings for her, and Cadance knows your feelings for everyone. She’s the one who got the rest of us to agree to share you. She also said there’d be other mares; I guess you’re going to have a large herd, ah well.”

I snorted and said “I doubt as many mares as you four think are interested in me are going to be interested. Maybe a few one night stands, but mostly ponies are just going to think me an oddity.” She stared at me as if wondering if I was serious. When she saw I was she sighed and started to drag me toward a dream. I tried to dig my feet in, but she was the princess of dreams, just because I was a lucid dreamer didn’t mean that she wouldn’t be able to easily kick my ass in the dream realm. I followed along behind her until we got to a lone dream that was set apart from others. She tapped it and it turned clear revealing its contents. In it Celestia was sitting across a table from me sipping a cup of tea. I seemed to have a pint of cider in hand.

I looked at Artemis who touched the dream and it expanded to surround us. Celestia said “So how do you feel, being back in Equestria after so long?” I shrugged in the dream and she asked “Why won’t you actually speak to me?” I just smiled mysteriously and stroked her cheek causing her to blush. She said “You know Luna loves you, right?” The dream me nodded and she said “I won’t let you break her heart.” The dream me pointed at her chest then made a breaking motions with his hands. She shook her head and said “I don’t think my heart is breaking because I want my sister to be happy.” I stared at her like she was crazy and she sighed then mumbled “So what if I love you too, after what I did to Luna I deserve to be alone.” The dream me snorted at that and pulled her into a hug holding her head to his chest. She sighed and said softly “I could never have you anyway, you love her and Artemis.”

I took over the dream version of me by stepping into it and said softly “I love you as well Tia. I know how much you’ve been hurting while you were all alone.” She looked up at me surprised and I kissed her muzzle causing her to blush. I smiled and said “I have enough room in my heart for almost all of Equestria. I just need to be shown love for me to return it. You’ve shown me plenty of love, and I know I love you. Luna would understand and wouldn’t want you to punish yourself just because you believe I belong to her. Just as I had to move on, you have to accept the truth.” She sighed and muttered something I didn’t quite catch.

I raised an eyebrow and she said “Why are you so good to me.” I touched her cheek to say she deserved it and she looked into my eyes then asked “Will you always love me, even when you’re old and grey while I’m still stuck being young.” I smirked and nodded. She smiled sadly and said “Alright, now if only I could tell you in the real world. I wish it was as simple for me to love as it is for Cadance and Artemis. Cadance already has her eyes set on someone, and Artemis already has said she’ll tell you when she next sees you. I wish, I wish I could tell you so much.” I stroked her mane then left the dream as the construct pulled her close and kissed her horn causing her to shudder before the dream became opaque.

I looked at Artemis and she said “You know I love you. Cadance, well we could see her dreams, or you can wait till you next see her in person to hear what she has to say.” I nodded and she said “Onward to the next person who loves you.” She dragged me along by wrapping her magic around me and I sighed deciding not to point out I would have walked just fine. She stepped up to another dream and poked it causing it to turn transparent then surround us. We were in a gigantic Library, books were everywhere. Standing in the middle of it was Twilight, however instead of looking at the books she was staring at someone or something sitting at one of the tables. I followed her eyes and saw the figure was covered in a cloak.

I raised an eyebrow and asked Arty “She often dream about mysterious figures?” She shushed me and motioned for me to take a seat. I did so and Twilight walked up then pulled back the hood of the person’s cloak revealing me staring at a book on time travel. She smiled and I said “Huh, didn’t expect to see myself in Twi’s dreams, though I know she sees me as a good friend.” Artemis face palmed and pointed as the figure looked up as Twilight tapped him on the shoulder. She smiled and he studied her then stroked her cheek with care and affection. She licked his cheek and he kissed her nose. She smiled and he went back to his book causing her to huff and swat him on the shoulder. He ignored her, other than having a smile on his face as if this was a regular thing for the two of them.

Twilight swatted him again and said “Jake!!! Don’t ignore me!” He looked at her questioningly, trying to hide a smirk behind the look, and she said “I know you enjoy studying almost as much as me, but you promised we’d spend time together.” He pushed his chair back and motioned to his lap. She studied him and said “Alright.” She climbed onto his lap and he stroked her mane as he read over her shoulder. She read some of the book and said “Really, you’re reading Starswirl’s theory on temporal mechanics?” He nodded blowing on her ear causing it to twitch. She swatted him with a hoof and asked “What have you discovered about it?”

He smiled and nipped her ear causing her to eep then said “I’ve discovered that he was very, strange. He was so sure you could alter time if you had the right tools, but at the same time he was sure that there were figures that existed outside of time. He seems to think the Draconequus are one group of such creatures. I don’t know why he was so interested in time though.” She nodded and curled up in his lap nuzzling into his chest and he continued “Though studying you would be more fun than studying this. How about we go to your room, kick out spike, and just relax together?” She smiled and nodded as he picked her up then the dream shifted. They were now laying on a big bed with Twilight curled up on top of him and he said “I love you Twilight.” She giggled and nuzzled him.

She said “I love you too Jake. I just have to wonder why it took so long for me to tell you. I know my sister wouldn’t approve, but that’s ok.” I snickered at the two of them then blinked as I realized what Twilight said and face palmed. Artemis giggled and ended the dream viewing hen turned to me questioningly. I sighed and nodded to let her know she was right. She pumped her hoof in the air and smirked at me knowingly. I sighed and muttered then motioned for her to lead to the next dream. She shook her head and mimed that I was waking up, which I slowly did so. I found myself staring into Twilight’s eyes and kissed her muzzle. She blushed and said “What brought that on Jake?” I just smiled at her lazily. She smiled back and said “So what’s the plan for today?”

I smirked and said “Well we could have fun doing nothing, we could sit in and read, or you and I could cuddle until Spike gets up. All of them sound fun to me.” She blushed and I hugged her close wondering how long it had been since her dream then said “I think I’m falling for you Twi.” She blinked and looked at me questioningly. I smiled and said “You’re so adorkable, it’s hard not to fall for you. However I have to warn you my heart already has others within it. If you can’t handle sharing, then I suggest you find a stallion who will worship you like you deserve.” She stared at me and I stared back waiting for her response.

She studied me and asked “What would you do if you had to choose only one?” I shook my head. She said “If you couldn’t have more than one what would you choose?” I showed her an open hand then closed it. She said “None?” I nodded. She studied me and said “You refuse to choose one of us over all the others?” I nodded and she smiled then hugged me saying “So long as you continue to act like that I don’t have a problem with you choosing all of us.” I smiled and kissed her muzzle then sat up. She climbed into my lap and got comfortable. I blinked and she said “You’re my chair for the day.” I snorted but nodded in acceptance. She smiled and said “Good.”

I snorted and said “It’s not like I have anything I need to do today. Though knowing my look AJ will come looking for me to see I we’re apple bucking today, after she works with Pinkie.” She stared at me and I said “What? She has to help Pinkie bake, then she’ll want to get back to apple bucking and I’ve been working on the farm with her.” Twilight glared at me and I said “Wait you think I’ve been leading her on?” She nodded disgruntledly and I said “HELL NO! She’d buck me through a tree! I don’t lead on anyone, every girl that wants to be with me knows about the others. The two that have already decided, besides you, are plotting to get others that like me together.”

She raised an eyebrow and I said “Would I like to have a harem of mares that follow my commands, eh, probably. Do I have a harem of mares right now, more of a herd really because of how I see them, but yeah kinda. I’m unlucky in how I see mares and that I find them more attractive than regular humans anymore.” She smiled and squeed. I blinked and asked “Did you just Squee?” She nodded bashfully and I said “Adorkable.” She stared and huffed then closed her eyes and buried her face in my neck. I raised an eyebrow and said “You can’t escape being adorkable Twi.” She grumbled something out and I stroked her back gently. I smiled at her and said “So adorkable.” She grumbled more and nipped my collarbone making me shiver. I snickered and said “Kinky, didn’t know you were into biting Twi.” She looked up at me with wide eyes and shook her head. I burst out laughing.

She glared and said “You’re mean.” I nodded to say ‘twas true. She sighed and buried her face into my neck and said “I don’t know how you can be so crazy and happy when you’re so far from home.” I snorted and she said “You do eventually want to go back where you came from, right?” I shook my head and stroked her neck making her whinny in delight as I rubbed just the right spot. She covered her mouth and I smirked. She stared and said “Not one word. Not one.” I held up my hands to say alright then popped my spine and motioned for her to get off me. She asked “Why? Didn’t I tell you you’re my chair for the day?”

I nodded and said “That you did, but if you don’t want me to pee myself you’ll let me get up and use the bathroom. You can have your human shaped throne back when I’m done.” She sighed forlornly but hopped off me allowing me to use the bathroom. After I washed my hands I walked back and sat back on the couch. She hopped into my lap getting comfortable then nibbled my ear making me laugh. I nipped her ear in response and she went wide eyed as I gently nibbled on it. I smirked knowing how sensitive equine’s ears were and stretched popping my shoulder which had locked up overnight. I yawned, which I’d been doing a lot of lately and said “So what now oh mighty pony overlord?” She giggled at that and booped my nose then hopped up and started cooking breakfast. I walked into the kitchen and took a seat to watch her make pancakes. She hummed to herself as she cooked. I watched her a while and said “Making enough for you, Spike, and me?” She nodded as she worked humming a different tune now and I stretched watching her hips and the way they moved.

She caught me looking and said “See something you like?” I nodded still staring and she flashed me her vulva with a flick of her tail catching me off guard. I stared at her and she said “I figure I can let my hair down around you.” I nodded in understanding and stretched then yawned and closed my eyes leaning my chair back and balancing on the back legs. I heard footsteps approaching and opened my eyes to see Spike staring at me. Twilight smiled and said “Morning Spike, how are you?” He grumbled and closed his eyes laying his head on the table. I chuckled and patted his back making him grumble even more and shift away. Twilight walked over with the food and said “Well Breakfast is served.” She laid the pancakes on the table in front of Spike, me, and her spot at the table.

She sat down and Spike said “What’s the plan for the day mom?” Twilight smiled and pulled out a list then floated it over to him with her magic. I yawned and dug in after coating my pancakes in syrup. He blinked and said “So, we just have to reorganize the library, reshelve the books, and clean up our room?” She nodded and he said “After that I can go see Rarity?” She nodded and he smiled then said “Sweet I’ll get started as soon as I’ve eaten mom.” Twilight smiled at him and nodded then dug in. I watched the two and couldn’t help but smile finding their interaction to be a balm on my old nerves. Spike looked at me and asked “What are you doing here so early in the morning wolf boy?” I pointed at Twilight. He stared and said “Making moves on mom again? I should blast you but I was taught better. I’ll just let her tell you to get lost.”

I looked at Twilight and asked “Would you like me to get lost?” She shook her head, still eating but watching the play by play between me and her son. Spike glared at me and I said “I’ll leave if you want Spike. It’s your house as much as your mother’s; I won’t be the one to come between the two of you.” He blinked surprised and I stretched then closed my eyes muttering “I may be an ass but I’m not going to ruin a family, I refuse to be a home wrecker.” Twilight and Spike both heard me but didn’t make any comments. I smiled sadly at Spike and said “Say the word and I’ll leave. Doesn’t mean I won’t come back because I care about your mom too much to stop being her friend, but I will leave and stay away while you’re here, or ask your mom to hang out at my house.” Twilight sighed and looked at Spike seeming disappointed but I just patted her head to let her know that Spike having a problem didn’t bother me.

Spike sighed and said “I couldn’t do that to mom. I know she sees you as a friend; thereby I won’t stand between the two of you. However if you hurt her, you will learn why dragons are feared and even Celestia won’t be able to stop me.” I nodded smiling happily that Twilight’s son was so protective of her. He studied me and said “You’re happy, why?” I smiled and pointed between him and Twilight. He blinked and said “Mom and me’s bond?” I nodded grinning and put an arm around Twilight’s shoulders making Spike growl. I hugged Twilight and Spike said “I don’t like the public displays of affection between you and mom.”

I snorted but let go of Twi and went back to eating. Spike watched me carefully until he finished eating then said “I’m going to go see Rarity mom.” Twilight wished him a good day and watched him go then sighed and turned to me. I looked at her questioningly and she studied me. I raised an eyebrow stretching then wiped a bit of pancake off her cheek. She smiled slightly and kissed my nose before going back to eating. I wondered what that was all about, but it made me feel warm inside so I figured it wasn’t that important, at least, not so important I’d drag the answer out of Twilight by force. Like I told her, I cared too much about her to let anything hurt her including myself.

Twilight finished eating and asked me “So what are the plans for the day?” I pointed at her and made a ‘you decide’ motion. She snorted and said “Well I need to reshelve the library.” I shivered but accepted that it had to be done. She smiled when she saw me get up and start to pull books down. She continued “After that I need to go to Rarity’s to get a few things tailored. Are you going to come with me to that?” I nodded yawning and stretched then popped my back and continued pulling books off the shelves until she started using magic to help. When we had all the books neatly stacked on the floor, we started restacking the shelves at Twilight’s direction.

Twilight watched me as I helped her restack and she asked “What are your honest thoughts on Spike?”

I blinked and asked “Guessing his attitude toward me brought this on?” She nodded and I said “First and foremost I see him as your son.” She blinked and I held up a hand to stop any comments saying “Let me explain what that means to me. No matter what, I won’t get between the two of you. No matter how much he may or may not like me, I won’t ever try to get you to pick me over him. No matter what happens I accept that to get you I get Spike, package deal that comes with dating a mare who has a kid. Now how do I see him besides as your kid, you’re probably asking.” She nodded and I said “I see him as a determined little boy who wants to keep his mom safe. I see him as someone you can rely on in a pinch. I see him as an intelligent young man who lets his heart guide him as much as if not more so than his head. I respect him, and accept his dislike of me. Do I wish he would see I’d never hurt you? Yes.”

She blinked and said “So you don’t care that he seems to hate you without really knowing you just because you’re dating me?” I shook my head as I placed another book on the shelf then started levitating books and putting them in the proper places at her direction causing her to gasp. She focused back on the conversation rather than my use of magic however and asked “If I left you because I had to protect Spike, would you hate me.”

I got up and walked over to her then gently guided her eyes to mine and said softly “I wouldn’t hate you no matter what you did. However if you left me to protect Spike I would respect you and I would do whatever it took to help you keep a roof over his head even if it meant helping you from the shadows as an anonymous benefactor. Spike may not be my kid, but I refuse to let one of my friends raise her son alone.” She blinked surprised and stared into my eyes reading the sincerity then teared up and hugged me around the neck.

I smiled sadly as she said “I’m sorry, I’m just always worried I’m going to lose someone close because Spike is so needy. I love him with all my heart and I would rather die than lose him, but Spike forgets he’s just a baby and acts like he has to protect me from the world all because I had a few incidents in the past.”

I flinched at how she said incidents, it sounded so dead and hollow. I swore to myself she’d never have anything like that happen again and I rubbed her back soothingly then whispered “We should probably finish up the library.” She nodded and let go of me wiping her eyes and I kissed her cheek then went back to placing books on the shelves. I thought about Twilight and mumbled “At worst she’s my friend. At best she’s my love; I refuse to see her as a one night stand if we ever couple. She’s too important to me for that. Yet I feel connections to the other mane six, to Luna, Artemis, Celestia, even Cadance and Gleaming though for my own safety I won’t be telling anyone about my thoughts on Gleaming.” I snickered at that and noticed Twilight looking lost with a book floating in her magic.

I blinked as I saw the faraway look in her eyes and swore realizing she may have heard me say what I did about her being someone I care about. I gently tapped her on the shoulder and she turned to face me. Slowly I waved a hand in front of her face. She studied it like it held the mysteries of the universe then asked “What did you mean by at worst I’m your friend and at best I’m your love?”
I blinked and asked “So you heard all of that?” She nodded and studied me lowering the book. I stretched yawning slightly and said “Well, no matter how I feel about you, the worst I could feel is we’re good friends and I’d die for you.” She slowly nodded in acceptance and I continued “The best I could feel is that I love you completely and want to spend eternity with you. Matters of the heart have never been my strong suit. I guess you could ask Cadance what I feel, but I’m so good at fooling myself I think even her magic wouldn’t know up from down when it comes to my mind, heart, and soul.” She slowly nodded and looked at me questioningly.

Raising an eyebrow I looked at her questioningly and motioned for her to ask away. She sighed and asked “Which do you think it is?” I shrugged and looked away not wanting to see the possible hurt in her eyes at that, but I honestly didn’t know yet. I’d have to spend more time with her, or we could kiss. If sparks flew then I’d know for sure I love her, if there was no reaction I knew we’d always just be friends. However I didn’t know how to tell her that let alone ask her to kiss me without explaining the reason. Twilight poked me in the shoulder and I turned to face her. She smiled slightly and said “No matter what, we’re friends, right?” I nodded and she smiled then nuzzled my cheek.
Gently I grabbed her head and turned my own sideways then kissed her muzzle feeling sparks explode behind my eyes as I closed them and slid my tongue into Twilight’s muzzle. She didn’t react at first then she started to pull away which I let her. She looked at me and said “You realize you just stole my first kiss?” I nodded in response and smiled the taste of several fruits on my tongue. She smiled and said “Then it’s a good thing I enjoyed it. Did you find whatever you were looking for?”

I nodded and said “I definitely love you. My world lit up like the fourth of July when I kissed you. Did it bother you?” She slowly shook her head and I continued “Good. If it had I’d have asked for your forgiveness in assaulting your mouth with my own, even if I don’t regret it.” She smiled at me and nuzzled me then went back to working on the library. I helped her falling into a companionable silence and licked my lips trying to savor the taste of Twilight. I had to wonder if her taste was because she ate a lot of fruit, wore lipstick, or just was natural.
While I was wondering that we finished fixing up the library Twilight went to get Spike while I headed home. I crashed on my couch and started to fall into a light doze until someone knocked on my door. Sighing, I climbed to my feet and answered it. I blinked when I saw AJ on the other side of the door looking at me with a dark expression. I raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to come on in.

She trotted in and sat down on my couch then pointed a hoof at me and said “You, are a pain in mah tail.” I stared at her aghast and she said “I come to Twilight’s expecting to be able to tell her that I don’t need your help, but she says she left and when she came back you were gone. So I go to each of our friends’ to ask if I they’ve seen ya. Rainbow takes a gosh darn fifteen minute shower and makes me wait only to say ‘Haven’t seen him.’ Rarity tries to drag me into a dress, Fluttershy just answered right away, and Pinkie says ‘Oh he’s at his house most likely.’ It’s pretty darn rare when Pinkie is the only one who makes sense. Then each of the girls asks me to tell ya to visit em whenever you get the chance. Now I missed about two hours of harvest to chase you around because you didn’t think to drop by the farm and ask if ah needed any help.”

I studied her and asked “Done?” When she nodded I asked “Feel better?” She nodded and I said “Still in the mood to buck me into next week?” A slight shake of the head here as if she’s still weighing it in her mind, and I finished “Thirsty?” She nodded again and I went to get her a glass of apple juice. She watched me go and I smiled slightly humming under my breath. I knew AJ wouldn’t have come looking for me unless she either cared about me, or she really felt she had to tell me something, so the fact she said it was just to tell me she didn’t need any help was the truth, but not all of it.
]
It was more an excuse for her to find me, I could have been wrong about that, but that’s what it seemed. I handed her the apple juice and she sipped it as I sat on the chair across from the couch and asked “So that the only reason you’re looking for me?” She shook her head and I asked “The other reason because I kissed Twi?” Again a head shake though a slight tick mark appeared over her left eye. I blinked and said “Oh you dun like that.” She snorted and I said “Alright I’ll drop the matter of the kiss. So why are you looking for me? I mean I don’t really know what it is, if it’s not to ask about the kiss or anything involving our friends?”

AJ looked at me and said “Yawl are gonna make me say it?” I blinked confused and thought “Make her say what exactly?” She sighed when she realized how lost I looked and said “You’re going to make me say that I miss having you around.” I stared surprised and wondered if she was jealous of Twi. She muttered under her breath then looked at me and said “What do you think of our friends, and any other mares you have your eyes on ya varmint?”

I shrugged and said “Who do you want to know about first? Do you want to know about my thoughts on You, Twilight, Celestia, Cadance, Gleaming Shield, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Luna, Moonlight, Rarity, or Pinkie?”

She stared and said “I guess we’ll start with Twi seeing as ya went and kissed her.” I slowly nodded my head and stretched then motioned for her to wait one second. Getting up and walking to the kitchen I grabbed an apple then walked back and took a bite before chewing slowly, trying to think what I was going to say without going into Twi’s own feelings or things getting back to Spike.

I sighed and said “First I’ll say what I think of her as a pony, then my feelings for her, then my thoughts on her as a mare. Is that ok with you?” AJ nodded and I said “Well, She’s smart, a good mother, ambitious when it comes to things she knows about, curious about everything, kind, compassionate, friendly, a bit egocentric at times, playful when she lets her guard down, destructive but unintentionally so, creative, talented, a good student, an over worrier, easy to read at times, and all around a great pony. My feelings for her, I love her. I wasn’t sure at first, but I knew the seed was there. After everything I think of her as a pony how is it that there was something about her I couldn’t love.

I mean her slight ego is a problem but only because it clashes with my own ego. I have come to love her adorkable tendencies, her brilliant mind, and her caring nature. While she’s doesn’t embody the other elements like honesty, laughter, kindness, generosity, or loyalty, to the degree you other girls do, she has all them, even if she’s just learning about them. I want to help her excel and grow. Hell I want to grow alongside her and the others I love, however I won’t force any of those I love to try and care for me nor will I choose one over the others.”

I finished with “As a mare I see her many ways. I see her as adorkable, beautiful, motherly, and caring. I see her as somepony who makes a good mother, somepony who will put others before herself but not her family, some who gives up he happiness for her family, and a mare any stallion would die to have in his herd if he spent a day with her. Yes she can go on and on about a topic she’s interested in, but you just have to cut her off or find a way to remind her you’re there. She’s loving, has a killer flank, and is svelte despite being a little overweight from a lack of exercise.”

Applejack stared at me and said “Those are really your thoughts?” I nodded and closed my eyes sipping my drink. Sighing she seemed to move around by the sounds on her end and she asked “How about Rainbow then, how do you see her?”

I smiled slightly at the thought of Rainbow and said “I see her differently from everyone else, and don’t know if I love her or not being that I haven’t spent a lot of time with her. However from how much time I have spent her I see her several ways. I see her as an athlete, boastful, brash, overconfident, rash, quick to jump to conclusions, smart though she doesn’t act it all the time, loyal, trustworthy, untrusting, strong, fast, free spirited, dependable yet not, and even hard working on and off.” AJ looked at me like I was nuts when I said hard working and I explained “She tries to get as much done in as little time as possible, in its own way that’s hard work.”

She slowly nodded saying “Ah guess that’s true. However I don’t like that you’re calling that slacker a hard worker in any other way than that. She may be dependable, but she’ll do whatever she can to get out of a situation if she doesn’t think she’ll get compensated for her work. It ain’t right, especially when she agrees to help you out as one friend to another.”

I raised an eyebrow and said “So you’re saying because she doesn’t fit into what you consider hard work, she’s not really working hard.” She started to nod then quickly shook her head. I chuckled and said “It’s ok AJ I won’t judge. However I believe we were talking about my thoughts and feelings toward Rainbow, right?” She quickly nodded and I said “Well my feelings for Rainbow are complicated. First off I see her as one of my best friends despite not spending a lot of time with her. I feel I can rely on her to some degree. I may love her but I won’t know if that’s just my attraction to her figure, her personality, or real love until I’ve spent time with and yes possibly kissed her.”

I paused at this as AJ’s eye twitched and she grumbled under her breath. I asked “Problem with that?” She shook her head and I said “Alright. Well I also feel she’s holding a lot back. I know she’s brash but beneath that I think she’s hurting, why I couldn’t say but if she is hurting I’ll be there to help her shore up her defenses against the world while helping her bring in those who she calls friends to see past her brash exterior.” She stared at me amazed and started to speak when I held up a hand and said “Let me finish with how I see Rainbow as a mare. I see rainbow as a beautiful athletic mare. Physically she’s got a tight flank you can bounce a bit off of, her eyes are a beautiful magenta, and her rainbow mane is beautiful. However I don’t know how she’d do as a mother because she has never had that kind of responsibility thrust upon her, and as such compared to someone like Twilight she may be lacking. Hell compared to you and Rarity she may be lacking what with how you deal with your younger sisters. Is that enough for you?”

Applejack nodded and said “Since ya brought her up, what are your thoughts about Rarity.” I glanced at the clock and she followed my eyes then swore and said “We’ll have to continya this another time. I gotta mosey on back to the farm and keep a watch on Applebloom.” I nodded and waved her farewell then went for a walk.

As I walked I was hit by the nostalgia. I’d dreamed of this land so many times before being struck by lightning, so I knew where everything was. It’s just that I’d now walked these roads a few times and seen the difference between reality and dreams. I stretched and yawned until I heard sniffling coming from an alley I was passing. I growled softly at the sound because it instantly made me think somepony was in distress. I walked into the alley and saw a filly about to be mounted by a drunken stallion.

I didn’t think I just reacted. My body went through a change and I tackled the stallion pinning him with my teeth at his throat. He whinnied in fear and I snarled. His eyes widened and my tail twitched. I was torn between biting down and ending his miserable life, or releasing him with a warning. I knew if I stained my teeth with his blood it would be for a good cause, but at the same time I wasn’t a killer. I released him and snarled saying “If I ever catch wind of you trying to force yourself on a colt or filly again, there is no jail on this planet that will protect you from me, understand?” He nodded and galloped away yelling about a monster.

I turned to the filly, who was hiding in an overturned trash can then walked up and licked her face. She went “Ewwwwwe! You’re as bad as Winona.” I snorted and licked her some more then curled up in front of her sniffing the air. She studied me and asked “Who are you, I saw a human at first, but now you’re a wolf. I only know of one human, and he sure as heck couldn’t turn into a wolf from what Miss Twilight said.” I snorted then gave her a look that said ‘Does Miss Twilight know everything?’ She giggled and said “I guess not. Care to explain to me what you are, if you can turn into a wolf one minute, a man the next?” I barked a few times trying to speak then grumbled and forced my magic throughout my body slowly changing it.

Contrary to the change brought on by the filly’s shriek of fear, this one was very slow and painful. The filly winced as each of my bones cracked and shifted until finally I was human once more. I studied her and when I realized who it was I said softly “Scootaloo what the hell are you doing out this late at night!” She winced slightly and wouldn’t look at me as she mumbled her answer. I raised an eyebrow and asked “What was that?” She mumbled some more and I said “Either you tell me or I’m taking you home and letting your mom drag the answer out of you.”

She sighed and looked at the ground then said “Mom and I had a fight, ok?” I nodded and pulled her head up gently then looked in
her eyes and brushed her mane out of the way. She stared at me and said “It was because mom’s getting worse. She wanted me to do something and I ended up getting angry at her, then when she started coughing I ran off. I couldn’t handle the thought of hurting her when all she’s ever done is take care of me.”

I nodded in understanding and said “Easy little loo.” She glared at the new nickname but I continued “We’ll go back and explain it to her. I bet she’s worried sick about you.” She slowly nodded and the two of us headed to Dream’s place. Dream was at the door looking around anxiously, but she was also coughing into a hoof. When she saw Scootaloo in my arms she ran up and thanked me profusely. I held up a hand and said “Easy Dream Scoots is ok. She was just worried about you because she thought she hurt you physically in your weakened condition. I think you two should talk, and if you want I’ll mediate. That way you can air out everything. I know you love each other, but we both know your time is starting to run out Dream. I can sense it, and Scoots can see it.”

Dream flight nodded and said “Please come in. There’s no point being out this late when only the unsavory elements are running around.” I winced thinking of the fact I was out this late and she said “There are of course exceptions.” I smiled sadly at that then stretched and set Scootaloo on the floor where she ran to her mother and hugged her apologizing. I shut the door behind me, and Dream said “Thank you for bringing Scootaloo home. I know the streets of Ponyville aren’t as bad as Canterlot, but I’ve seen that there are still problem areas.” She turned toward Scootaloo and said “As for you, why did you run out?”

Scootaloo dragged a fore hoof along the floor then said “I’m sorry Momma, I was just worried I’d hurt you and couldn’t forgive myself. I didn’t mean to cause you to worry.” I smiled at Scootaloo then she said softly “I just don’t like thinking about the fact you don’t have long to live. I know you’re sick, but I wish you would tell me what happened that made it worse.” I winced at that but then schooled my face at Dream’s look. Scootaloo studied the two of us and said “Jake said he wants us to talk about our problems, and I guess we should. I guess you should go first, because my problems aren’t that important.”

I snorted at that and Dream said “Honey you’re problems are always important, don’t ever think otherwise. Understand?” Scootaloo nodded tearing up and hugged her mother crying into her chest saying how she didn’t want her to go. I sighed and looked at Dream begging for her to accept my treatment with my eyes. She shook her head at me and pointed at her daughter. I sighed and nodded then started to check Scoots for any sign of the parasite. I grinned when I couldn’t find any sign of the stupid thing then poured magic ing Scootaloo and watched as her wings started to grow before my eyes. Dream gasped and said “Scootaloo look at your wings!” Scootaloo followed her mother’s eyes and gasped at the size of her wings then started beating them rapidly and lifted off the ground. Dream smiled and said “Looks like you’ll be flying in no time baby.” Scootaloo nodded and sat down on the couch next to Dream.

I smiled and said “Good going Scoots. You’re wings are finally growing so you should be a strong flyer sooner rather than later. You’re magic is also coming in, so you should be able to fly with Rainbow sooner rather than later.” She grinned and flapped her wings more creating a small breeze. I smiled and said “Why don’t you both talk and get along tonight, I think I’m going to head home, since you don’t need me anymore. Alright?” They nodded and I bid them adieu then jogged home. I knew Luna was going to be in my dreams that night so I decided to stop leaving her waiting. I plopped down in bed after stripping and taking a shower. I yawned as I drifted off then found myself in the dream realm where Luna was waiting for me with a smile on her face. I waved and said “Hey Lulu, miss me?” She nodded and tackled me then studied my face. I asked “Something on my face?” She shook her head and kissed me causing my nerves to light on fire and my tail, if I had one, to wag.

Luna studied me and noted “I see I passed your kissing test, at least if the fluffy appendage behind you has anything to say about it.” I followed her pointing hoof and blinked as I saw a tail wagging behind me and nodded slightly blushing. She giggled and said “It’s alright; many of us forget to control ourselves in the dream realm. Even I don’t have as much mastery as Artemis. I sometimes think she is the true mistress of Dreams.” I smirked and wondered if I should point out she once went by Nightmare Moon. She smiled and hugged me around the waist then nuzzled my cheek and laid a wing over me. I raised an eyebrow and she said “I’m just going to enjoy having you all to myself until you wake up tomorrow morning.”

Laughing I asked “Oh, what doth the lady plan to do to mine poor body whilst she hath thou all to herself?” She glared and I laughed harder until she hoofed me in the side. I breathed softly for a bit till the pain went away then asked “Alright, alright I’ll stop, but seriously what are your plans for me tonight?” She smirked and looked away with a slight blush. I internally shouted “KAWAII!!!!!” at her look. She smiled at me and started to lean close then nipped my ear which caused me to growl challengingly. It seemed like whenever I was in the dream realm my more animalistic nature came out and I couldn’t help but act like a beast around my mares. I wondered where the my mares thought came from at first then shrugged it off as Luna pulled me close and nipped my shoulder leaving a bruise.

I glared and she said “I can’t mark you in the waking world, but I can definitely mark you in your dreams so that Artemis will know who you belong to.” I snorted and she said “Unless of course you want me to mark you in the real world.” She was looking down as she said this and again I thought she was kawaii. I shook my head and she smiled at me through her lashes then asked “Jake, why are you so reserved around me tonight, yet so open when around both Artemis and I?”

I sighed and said “Because Artemis has been in my head and you have not.” She looked at me confused and I said “How about I show you what I mean.” She nodded and I imagined a door leading from the dreamscape to my mind. It appeared and I poured magic into it, to keep it from vanishing. Slowly it solidified until it was an unbreakable part of the dreamscape. I opened it and said “Welcome to the mind of Equestria’s wolfish writer, Luna.” She nodded and walked in then I followed her through the door shutting behind us, but since I’d put so much magic into it, it had become a permanent fixture of the dream realm, which would come to bite me in the ass later on. Anyway we walked into my mind and Luna blinked when she saw the verdant forest that hid my thoughts. I whistled loudly as I started to change in appearance, causing my other sides to appear. First was Shadow who appeared in all his lupine glory. Next were Vex and Blaze, the fox riding on the back of the hell stallion. Finally Andromeda and Nora, who were walking alongside each other and talking, appeared.

Luna looked around then stared at Blaze and said “I didn’t know you had a hell stallion in your mind, why would you keep such a demon around?” Raising an eyebrow I looked at her questioningly. She sighed and said “Hell Stallions vanished shortly before we took the throne. Actually you were the one who banished them now that I think about it, though they said you could call upon them at any time for some reason. Is he one of them?” Shaking my head I sighed and tapped my head to point out that we were in my mind. Luna nodded saying “Yes I know we’re in your mind, what are you trying to tell me involving this foul creature.”

I sighed and said “Luna, Blaze is one of my forms and personalities. Actually the fact they all still exist but aren’t fully colored means that they’re starting to fade as I accept each of them. I’m a chimera by nature, as you can see if you were to actually look at me.” Luna looked me over at this point and gasped in realization. I smiled as she took in my form, I had the hooves of a horse, tails of a fox, ears of a wolf, wings of a dragon, and stripes of a tiger on my body as well as the eyes of a beast. Luna gasped and I said “This is the real me. I’m a chimera. Eris is the closest creature to me in constitution but where she’s a Draconequus, I’m a chimera. Where she’s a being of chaos I’m a being of harmony and chaos combined. Do you fear me?”

Luna walked up and kissed my cheek in answer then said “If I didn’t fear you a thousand years ago, I would have no reason to fear you now. You haven’t changed even if this is your past and my future as you said so long ago. Now why don’t you take your human form and introduce me to the others, or at least tell me why I had to be in your mind for you to stop being so reserved around me.”

Snickering I said “Honestly the reason you had to see into my mind was to realize I’m not like anything on Equestria. I’ll show each of those I love about the interior of my mind and let them choose to stay or go. If you’re really sure I don’t change even in the past, then who am I to argue?” I became more somber as I continued “I’m a soldier, a writer, a villain, a hero, a madman, a priest, a prophet, and so much more. However beyond it all I’m a lonely man. I’ve lost and gained so much. You know me as a proud protector, Dream knows me as the man that gave her daughter her ability to fly again, Twilight knows me as the first guy to actually see her for her, and Applejack knows me as a hard worker who holds himself to high standards. So many see me so many different ways, yet you all forget that I’m an outsider. Equestria isn’t my home, and one day I’ll either return to earth, or just vanish. So can I truly enjoy a relationship with any of you fair mares when I may vanish at a moment’s notice? Until I know why Harmony and Chaos have chosen me, I can’t do anything. I have to wake up Eris and show her that destiny isn’t set in stone; I need to remind Tia she can laugh, Artemis she can cry, and even you that you can love again. How am I supposed to do all of that?”

Luna stared at me and said softly “It’s because you’re you that you can do all that. It’s because you’re a brave wonderful man who can take everything the world throws at him that we trust you to take our worries away, because you care that we trust you, because you’re so unsure of yourself that we are so strong. If you stood alone and didn’t lean on us you’d eventually fall, just as we would fall if we didn’t’ lean on you. I look forward to the day you can change Eris, if it’s possible, I look forward to the day the elements are no longer needed, but to fix everything comes at a cost. I refuse to have you be that cost.”

I smiled sadly at her the others watching the two of us and said softly “Well I’m more than willing to be that cost. I’m a nobody with no family, no loved ones, and no life here. I’m going from place to place and eventually you guys will forget me. If my life is the cost to make this world peaceful then I will gladly pay it. I’ve always been told that I had a destiny, but every time I think I’ve found it I screw everything up. If my life is the cost to make this world better then what is the value of one man against a million sentient beings?”

She stared at me her eyes starting to water and said “I can’t lose you again Jake.” I smiled and stroked her mane holding her head against my chest as the tears slipped down her face and my other sides faded out of existence, finally having realized that I accepted each of them in my own way because their goals were similar to my own. Luna looked up at me through watery eyes and said “Why does it have to be you?”

I smiled sadly and wiped her tears away whispering in her ear “Because if I don’t do it, then just maybe, no one will.” She put on a tough face, but she was still growing out of filly-hood again, so I could see that she was barely holding herself together. I pulled her into my lap as I sat against a tree and started stroking my fingers through her mane and kissing her ears. She giggled a little and lipped at my face causing me to laugh softly and say “Relax Luna, if we’re lucky that will never come to be, however if it does come to be I’ll find a way to leave a message for all my friends, if I have any, and let them know that one day I will return. I promise nothing will keep me away forever.”

She studied me then smiled sadly and said “I’ll keep you to that. If you’re ever gone to long I’ll come looking for you. Though I don’t doubt others will help me. You’ve really started to gain a following among the mares of Equestria.” I chuckled at that and stroked her mane causing her to murr and say “So, should we go back to the dream realm, or do you want to have fun in your mind?” I snorted and flicked her nose causing her to whinny in distress. She rubbed her nose and said “No fair, I can’t flick you, unless I were to take a human form, though I think there may be a kind of magic that would allow all of Equestria to take a form close to your human form, I don’t know I’d have to ask Tia.” I nodded and rubbed her ears causing her to snort in pleasure and nibble my fingers. Smiling I kissed her nose and ran my hand down her wing preening it slowly, causing her to shiver.

As I preened her I asked “You see everyone’s dreams right?” She nodded and I asked “Do any of the mane six dream of me?” She looked at me confused and I elaborated “The element bearers do any of them dream about me?” She nodded grinning evilly. I blinked at her look and swallowed heavily then asked “What exactly do they dream about me?”

Luna smirked and said “Well Twilight dreams of you sweeping her off her feet, Applejack of you working in the fields shirtless, Rainbow of you sparring with her, Rarity doesn’t dream of you but that’s only a matter of time, Fluttershy dreams of you helping her take care of animals, and Pinkie dreams of throwing you a huge party.” I stared at her wondering why she would smirk over that and she said “That’s just the bearers however, regularly mares you’ve interacted with have dreamed about you doing things from g rated, I believe cinemas would call them, to X rated.” I swore and blushed muttering under my breath causing her to laugh and nuzzle me. She said “Don’t worry only those that my fellow Alicorns and I approve of will be allowed to be with you unless you make an exception for them.”

I chuckled and said “Right, I think I’m waking up, so you had better leave my mind.” She nodded and walked out through the door then I found myself lying in bed staring up at the ceiling. I decided then and there I was going to spend the morning making new friends, preferably male friends at that, and then get out and have fun. I stretched as I climbed out of bed and stared at the clock on my wall seeing it was six thirty. I rubbed my neck and said “Guess I can see if Big Mac wants to hang out, or knows anyone who is free.” Stretching I got dressed and headed out toward the farm popping my last piece of gum into my mouth. I chewed as I walked; waving at those I passed, taking notice now and then of who was friendly and who was taciturn in their replies to my waving.

I got to the market and saw Mac was running the stall today, since he’d still had a busted hip, and said “Afternoon Mac.” He nodded at me and I asked “You know anyone who’s up for a drink tonight? I’m in the mood to hang out with a few guys and see if I can make some new friends.” He just looked at me boredly and I said “You’re included, if you don’t have to work tomorrow. If you do, then I’ll just let you go.”
He sighed and said “Thunderlane’s always looking for new drinking buddies, and there is a new guy in town looking for new friends. There’s also Flare Step, and Ray Light.” I made note of each one, and he continued “Right now actually the four of them should be at Berry’s.” I nodded and thanked Mac telling him to join whenever. Walking into Berry’s I spotted the four stallions over in a corner playing cards. I walked over and sat down then laid some bits on the table.

I stretched out and popped my back before asking “How much for a buy in?” Thunderlane told me and I put my cash into the pot then picked up two cards, as they were playing a game of Texas hold em, or at least the pony equivalent. I grinned when I saw I had a pair of princesses, which were the highest cards in the game, and watched as a third was flipped over. Eventually I won the hand and we continued playing the guys starting to open up the longer we played, and more they drank. After about two hours we all knew each other pretty well and we agreed to meet up later if mac could join, and possibly drag in some new blood.

I got up from the table, quite a bit richer, and walked to Twilight’s library. I knocked on the door and Spike answered. He looked at me then sighed and yelled “Twilight, Jake’s here.” He gave me the stink eye then walked away leaving me standing there. I smiled when Twilight walked up and kissed her cheek making her smile in return. Spike gagged from his spot on the couch and Twilight just gave him a look to be civil. From there the day passed by rather quickly until I bid her farewell and promised to meet up again that weekend.

I went back to Berry’s where Mac had joined the others and we started talking. It was odd how we could act like old friends though I’d known most of these guys only a few hours. They all had stories to tell, and laughed at my own. It was a fun night, and at the end of it we all went home happy and a little drunk. As I stumbled home I wondered if I would only have friends and loves, or would eventually have lovers, then figured it didn’t matter because I was a man who had nothing to give any of these ponies except my loyalty, and that was ok with me for now, because one day I’d be able to pay them back for how they accepted me.