Friendship is Hope: Book One

Tours and First Impressions Part 1

Rainbow just stood there for a while, not exactly sure what to do. A few seconds ago, this stallion in front of her was slicing through what can only be described as demons; and now he's acting all friendly. After thinking about it, she reached out her hoof to meet his and greet him back. "I'm Rainbow. Rainbow Dash." Still a bit unsure of this "Thanatos", she will at the very least give him the benefit of the doubt... for now anyway. "What are you doing here? Don't you know that the Everfree forest is dangerous?" Thanatos asked. "I could be asking you the same question buster." Rainbow countered, giving a scrutinizing stare. Thanatos merely shrugged his shoulders. "Fair enough, but I asked first." Rainbow kept up her stare before she realized she couldn't see if it was doing anything to him anyway; his face was covered up after all. Sighing, Rainbow dropped her stare. "I saw those... things running and I wanted to see what they were. I've seen a lot of creatures before, but I've never seen creatures like those things before." Thanatos tilted his head in confusion. "Those things are call ravagers, and what do you mean "seen many creatures"? You a vet or something?" Rainbow blushed at the accusation. "No, but my best friend is. Speaking of her, she's going to be pissed if she found out what you did to those things. On that note." She zoomed right in front of him. grabbing,only to shout out at the top of her lungs. "HOW THE LIVING BUCK DID YOU DO THAT!!!"

"My ears... I think there bleeding" Thanatos thought. "You know that you don't need to shout right? And... could you let go of my head please?" Rainbow then realized how close they were and promptly removed her hooves from around his head. "Sorry." Rainbow said, head down to hide her flushed face and backing away slowly. "Don't worry about it, and to answer your question simply, magic." Thanatos said. "So your a unicorn?" "Maybe." Thanatos said shrugging. "You gotta be. What other kind of ponies can use magic?" Rainbow reasoned. "If that is what you want to think then fine.By the way, I know that this might be a pretty obvious question, but are you from Ponyville by any chance?" Rainbow gave him a dead pan look. "No I live under that rock." She said sarcastically while pointing at a rock. "Of course I'm from Ponyville, Where else would anypony stay near here?" "Hey, I was just asking to make sure." Thanatos defended. "Anyway, the reason I asked was because I need a guide." Rainbow gave a confused face. "Guide to what, Ponyville? Well I was about to get some shut-eye before the Summer Sun Celebration, but I guess I can." Rainbow said. "Just remember, I don't do this just for anypony, but you look cool enough." "Gee I feel so good about myself right now." Thanatos thought sarcastically as the two ponies made their way out of the forest.

One Short Trek Later

Thanatos's and Rainbow's arrival to town certainly attracted attention, most of them were towards Thanatos. "Everypony's staring at me" Thanatos announced the obvious. "Well of course, Ponyville is a small town. If some new pony new arrives it's kind of a big deal." Rainbow said. "Now, where should I take you first?" Rainbow thought aloud putting a hoof under her muzzle. Just at that moment a royal chariot being pulled by two pegasus guards landed in the center of town. A purple unicorn got of the chariot along with a small purple lizard. She thanked the two guards and left.

Thanatos POV

"Twilight Sparkle? What is she doing here?" I thought, I looked at Rainbow and said. "Um, I'm just going to ask them something." I pointed towards the two guards that were still were they were when they landed. "You think you can just walk up to them and ask whatever you want?" Rainbow scoffed at me. "Maybe?" I answered back while making my way over to the to living statues. "Hey" I called out to them. They looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "None of your concern shorty. Move along." They said laughing. "Short? I'm almost as tall as you." I thought to myself. "See I told you." Rainbow said behind me with a smug look. I reached into my cloak and grabbed something that would certainly change attitude.

Rainbow POV

"Called it! Totally called it!" I said in my mind as I saw the events unfold before me. I grew curious however when Thanatos pulled out what looks like some sort of badge out of his cloak. He showed it to the two still laughing guards. "Aww what's that? Your library card? What a good boy." One of them said, while patting Thanato's head as they continued to laugh at him. I was about to say something to help Thanatos out of this situation before he said. "Maybe you two should consider going there some time, would have helped you actually read what is on this "library card"." Thanatos said in a challenging voice. One of the guards' face became one of rage as he heard the threat. "What did you just say you piece of shit?" He said walking forward only to be stopped by his partner's hoof. "What!?!" He shouted before he grew confused at his partner's horrified face. "Whats the matter?" He asked, only for the other guard to point at the badge. He looked at it for a second before his face mirrored his partner's. The next part confused me severely because they both suddenly stood at attention before saluting Thanatos. "W--we'r sorry sir, we didn't know it was you." Sir? What? I looked back at Thanatos as he put back the badge. "Is he in the guard or something?" I thought to myself. "That would explain how he could fight so well, but even the guards can't do what he did... Who is this Guy?"

2nd Person POV

"Nothing to worry about." Thanatos said waving his hoof dismissively. "Happens to the best of us. Back to my question though, What is Miss. Sparkle doing here? She never goes to anywhere other than the library, let alone Ponyville." "She's here on Princess Celestia's order to look over the final preparations for the Summer Sun Festival. That is all we were told sir." One of the guards said. "Interesting, well carry on with you then." They saluted at Thanatos then sighed loudly when his turned his back was turned. "That was close." one of them said "Yeah who knows what he'd do to us if you went at it." The other said as Rainbow went up to them. "You two know Thanatos?" Rainbow asked as they looked at her. "Yes, you with him?" Rainbow blushed and said. "We'r not "together" I'm just his guide for now." "Well take our advice, don't trust him." One of the guards said. "Why not?" Rainbow asked. The guard was about to answer but his partner stopped him. "I'm sorry miss, but we need to be leaving." He said as they took off. "Wait! I still got some questions!" Rainbow said as she followed them. "Hey Rainbow! You gonna show me around or what?" Thanatos shouted gaining Rainbows attention. She looked back at the two guards one more time before sighing and flying down to meet with Thanatos. "Fine, hmmm... you hungry?" Rainbow asked when she reached him. Thanatos thought for a second. "A bit I guess. Why?" Rainbow Smiled. "Because your going to love our next stop." Rainbow said vaguely, leaving Thanatos to wonder what she meant.

A Short Walk Later

"So this is what she meant." Thanatos thought when they reached their destination: Sweet Apple Acres. The entire covered with apple trees didn't help Thanatos' growing hunger. "It's been a while since I've seen an apple tree." He stopped for a moment in thought. "Now that I think about it... I don't remember the last time I've seen an apple tree. Wait, why are we here again? Did you just bring me here to get me hungry or something?" Rainbow looked at Thanatos with a smug face. "That depends, is it working?" Thanatos looked away and said. "Nope." Just then, his stomach decided to be a contradicting asshole today and rumbled loudly. Thanatos just stood there until Rainbow was finnished rolling on the floor laughing... it took a while. "sorry." Rainbow said wiping tears away. "Anyway, I brought you here because I got somepony for you to meet." Thanatos looked at her, then to the trees, then back to her. "Let me guess... Applejack?" Thanatos guessed earning a surprised look from Rainbow. Before Rainbow could say anything, somepony beat her too it. "Somepony call me?" They looked to the sound of the voice to see a orange earth pony with a blond mane and wearing a stetson. "Oh, hey Applejack, I got somepony for you to meet." She said pointing at Thanatos. "Meet Thanatos, he's new in town and wanted me to show him around." Applejack trotted up to him with a smile and reached out her hoof which Thanatos took. "Well howdy partner, I'm Applejack, co-owner of Sweet Apple Acres along with my family the apples." She said enthusiastically while shaking his hoof with great strength. Even when she stopped shaking, his hoof still kept shaking due to the force until he forced it to stop. "Nice to meet you too Miss Applejack, like Rainbow said I'm Thanatos. By the way, good hoof, that actually hurt." He said rubbing his sore leg. "Sorry, didn't mean too hurt you there sugarcube. Don't know my strength sometimes." She said rubbing the back of her head. "It's fine. Bye the way, can I buy one of your apples, haven't eaten since yesterday." Thanatos said earning shocked expressions from both mares. "You haven't eaten today, why didn't you tell me?" Rainbow said, feeling bad that she made Thanatos hungrier than he already was, however Thanatos just shrugged saying. "Meh, not the first time I haven't eaten over a long period of time. I once went a month without food, now that was hard." Applejack just smiled. "Well follow me partner, we'r bout to have lunch, you two can eat with us." Thanatos nodded thanking her as they went to eat.