Chapter 7

Most of the day was spent teaching Twilight on Japoneighs itself. Luckily to Twilight’s determination she learned rather quickly. Prey was impressed at the determination of his new master, yet the word master was hard to say for him. Since technically she is his master, but he is teaching her like a master. All too confusing for Prey.

“Watashi no namae wa Twilight Sparkle desu.”

“Hai. iiyo.” Prey commented on Twilight’s Japoneighs. “Do you remember what that means?”

“It means my name is Twilight Sparkle. Right?” Prey nodded making Twilight smile at her achievement. “I gotta say Prey you weren’t kidding. Three whole alphabets for one language?”

“Hai Hontou, It gets a little complicated. But if I have to make a comment Twilight, I would say you are doing very good.”

“Thank you, and thank you for volunteering to teach me this. It is quite fascinating.”

“Doo Itashimashite. But Twilight I have one question if you do not mind me asking?” She shook her head.

“I don’t mind, go ahead.”

“I have been feelings these feelings. Feeling that make me feel good on the inside, right around here.” He said pointing to his chest and stomach. “Yet at the same time, I also feel slight pain or discomfort. It is not extreme, but almost feels like a sickness. Do you know what it means?”

“Hmm, when do these feelings happen?”

“It happened a few times. Two times involved Applejack sleeping on top of me, and other times when I think about Applejack.” He then noticed Twilight who was blushing, she had connected the dots. “Do you know this feeling?”

“Umm….how can I explain this?” She started sweating a bit trying to find an answer or a compromise. “Well it is difficult to explain. I can’t really explain it very well Prey, maybe some other time is that okay?”

He nodded. “It is fine Twilight. I have another question if you do not mind.” She nodded. “I was wondering what you would want me to do today?”

“Oh uh….I guess relax?” Prey’s face retracted a little in confusion.

“Um…..are….are you sure?”

“Or just go around town, y’know explore a bit.”

Find it odd, he’s never had a strange order or request like this before. “As….as you wish.” Before he could leave his room Twilight closed his door with her magic. “Is….is there something else Twilight?”

“Yea first off,” She pointed at Prey’s dirty bloody robes. “Take a shower, you literally smell like the dead. It’s not exactly um, appealing to be covered in old blood. I’ll wash them for you.”

After a clean shower, which Twilight had to instruct Prey how to use, Prey was much cleaner than before. He put on a new robe and pants and was ready to head outside. Twilight did not like the idea of Prey walking around in public with a weapon clearly visible on him, so she recommended to leave it behind. Prey wanted to protest but couldn’t, Twilight could see his discomfort from leaving his sword behind.

She compromised by giving him an enchanted stone. Should he need his sword he would give the stone a jolt of magic which would teleport his sword to his side and vice versa. This was pleasing with Prey as he now felt like he had his sword with him at all time.

He started walking around the town of Ponyville, his supposed new home. He looked around the town and found it very appealing. The colorful houses, the rich sensation of the town mostly being quiet, and some of the wildlife he’s never seen in the Bad Lands. He’s never seen what a little pigeon looked like, let alone hear one “coo” before.

He kept walking around the town, taking in everything when suddenly he heard his name being called. “Prey! Darling!” He turned to see one of his masters, Miss Rarity who was waving towards him from a very bright and elegant looking house. “Can you come over here please? I want to show you something!” She exclaimed as Prey walked towards her house.

“Konichiwa Miss Rarity, is there something you need me to do?”

“Why yes darling. I’ve been thinking, drawing, and continuously looking at hybrid clothing from your samurai armor. And I’ve think I’ve come up with a final design. So my question is, would you be willing to wear it around public and display it when I finish it?” He asked with a smile as Prey slightly bowed his head.

“As you wish Miss Rarity. Is there anything else you need for me to you?”

“Hmmm, Ah!” She looked at his robes closely and found them rather…..displeasing. “I want you to change your clothes.” She commanded with a serious tone. Prey raised his eyebrow as the request. “Are robes all you wear as an overall?”

“H-hai Miss Rarity. Is there anything you would want me to wear?” Rarity then levitated over a dark grey shirt and a pair of jeans.

“Wear these darling. There’s a pedestal over there you can change on, I won’t look I promise.” Prey stepped on the pedestal and he untied his robe and took it off. Rarity promised to not look, but she didn’t pinkie promise. She took a small peak and caught a glimpse of his chest. To her surprise she found the muscle toned changeling that Applejack seemed to be fond of, she had to admit as well, it was quite sexy. She looked away quickly before he could catch her and waited for Prey to finish changing.

He finished changing and picked up his robes. “Are these okay miss Rarity?” He started moving around and stretching to find it less restrictive and more light than his robe.

“Yes darling, you look quite wonderful in them. Much more normal around these parts of Equestria now.” She complimented gently clapping her hands at Prey's appearance.

“Arigatoo Miss Rarity. If I find any money to give, I will pay you as soon as possible.”

She shook her head and gave him a smile. “Think nothing of it darling, think of it as a welcoming gift to Ponyville.” She then noticed that Prey had an unsure look on his face. “Something wrong dear?”

He looked to his side. “Normally Miss Rarity when I wore my robes, the ties around my robe would act as a way of holding my sword. But I don’t see any way I can hold my sword with these pants.”

“Ah I know.” She opened a drawer with her magic and retrieved a brown belt. She walked up to Prey and applied the belt around his waist and through the jean’s belt loops. “There we go, this is a belt. Just latch it around your jeans like so and you should be able to place your sword here.”

“Domo Arigatoo Gozaimasu Miss Rarity, this is too generous. I don’t know how I could pay you back for this generosity.”

“Think nothing of it darling. Although if you insist on returning my services, come back tomorrow and I’ll have a task for you.” He bowed to her in great thanks. “Also, I’ll be taking these robes, thank you very much. Though they have no appeal here in Ponyville, I might be able to make them more...posh for a Canterlot perspective.”

Canterlot, thanks to Twilight’s lecture and history lesson on the train he knew of Canterlot’s rich and noble lifestyle, it didn’t appeal to him however. “As you wish Miss Rarity, I have more robes so you can have that one.” He then started to leave the boutique. “I am going to continue exploring the town as Twilight wants me to, if that is okay Miss Rarity.”

“Of course, I won’t stop you anytime soon. Ta ta~” Prey left the boutique but he still had nothing to do.

“Look out!” Prey heard a scream in the distance as he spotted a orange filly launching towards him. With almost no time to react, he stuck his hands out and opened himself to catch the filly. With great force he felt filly cannonball into his chest as it pushed him back a few feet and pushing him into the ground, leaving a trail of crushed dirt and gravel.

On the ground, Prey hissed in pain as he felt the bruising of dirt and gravel through his chitin. He opened his arms to find the filly on his chest. “Ugh, are you okay?” He asked the filly who looked up at him, her face became shocked since he was a changeling.

“Woh! A changeling!” she stood up and brushed off any dirt on herself. “Sorry dude, I was practicing a new move on my scooter and I went a little too fast and launched off a stray rock.” She apologized with a sheepish smile.

“It is okay. And yes, I am a changeling.”

The filly tipped up and leaned forward, taking a long good look at the changeling. “Huh, you’re a changeling but not a 'changedling'?”

“Ah yes, I am a different kind of changeling. I am what is called a samurai, a different kind of changeling.”

“Oh really? Do you feed on love and transform? I kind of find those things kind of cool!”

“Unfortunately I cannot do those, as a samurai changeling I cannot feed love. I feed on honor and pride. And I cannot transform like normal changelings.” He explained as he then spotted two other fillies running towards them.

“Scootaloo!” A yellow filly with a southern accent called out. “Are you okay!?”

“We saw you crash over here!” Another filly with a squeakier sounding voice exclaimed as they both reached Prey and the orange filly.

“Yea I’m alright. This changeling caught me which broke my crash.” She said pointing at Prey. “This is…..sorry mister I don’t think I got your name.”

“My name is Prey Striker little one. Are you sure you’re okay? You crashed very hard.” He asked.

“Yea I’m totally fine, see!” The filly said as she squatted down to stretch. Suddenly she felt a whole wave of pain coming from her ankle as she fell to the ground clutching to her leg in pain. “Agh Sweet Celestia! never mind, my legs hurts!” She hissed in pain as Prey knelt down to check on her.

“See Ah told ya that stunt was a bad idea. Hey mister, ya mind if you could help us out?”

“Yes I can help you.” He said with a nod.

“Cool, could you carry Scootaloo here and follow us to mah house? My sister could help her until her parents come and pick her up.”

“As you wish.” Prey scooped Scootaloo up and started carry her behind his back. “Now where do go?”

“This way’s mah house.” The filly started walking as the others soon followed suit. “So Prey, where ya from?”

“Well I am from the Bad Lands, where most are changelings are from.”

“Well it’s nice to meet ya Prey. Mah name’s Applebloom.” She introduced with a cheery tone.

“And I’m Sweetie Belle!” Said the white filly.

“And I’m Scootaloo! And we’re-”

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders!” They all chimed simultaneously with their fists in the air. Prey couldn’t help but feel a similar pain in his chest, somewhere around his heart region.

“I...I see.” He said with a half smile, he couldn’t exactly take the three fillies seriously. The four soon reached a large road with apple trees everywhere. The sight was amazing for Prey, he’s never been around so much nature all at once. “Ki…..Kirei. He said with wide open eyes admiring all the trees around him.

“K-Key Ray? What? What language you speaking Prey?” Applebloom asked with a confused look and a sharp raised eyebrow.

“Ah, I apologize. It is my native language. I was admiring the trees and saying that they are pretty.” He explained as all the three confused fillies all ‘ooooooohh’ed at the same time. Still carrying Scootaloo, Prey then noticed a large red house and barn hybrid. “Is that your home Applebloom?”

“Sure is! This whole apple farm belongs to mah family! This here is Sweet Apple Acres!” She exclaimed with pride. Prey felt the pride and secretly absorbed the ‘pride’, none of them even noticed.

“I see.” He said as he gazed upon all of the trees.

“Applebloom!” Exclaimed a familiar voice making Prey turn his attention to Applebloom’s house to find one of his masters Applejack in the distance. “What’re you doing home to early? Ah thought you weren’t coming home until later in the evening.” She then noticed Prey standing there with Scootaloo in his arms. “Prey? What’re you doin here?”

“Ah konichiwa Applejack, it is nice good to see you again.” Prey greeted with a smile making Applejack blush a little bit.

“Good to see you too Prey, but what are you doing here?” She then took a good look at Prey and Scootaloo, both were pretty roughened up and dirty. “What happened to you two?”

“Scootaloo tried to do a new trick and she crashed into Prey here.” Sweetie explained making Scootaloo smile sheepishly. “The trick caused her leg to get hurt.”

“We were wondering if she could relax here until her parents pick her up?” Asked Applebloom making Applejack smile.

“Of course she could stay here. Just make sure you call Scootaloo’s parents so that they know where she is. But I still got one question, what is Prey doing here?”

“Oh well he volunteer to carry Scootaloo.” Sweetie Belle explained.

“Ah see, well come along and bring her inside. Granny Smith will take care of her until then.” She said as Prey and the others followed Applejack inside. “Just set her down on the couch. Ah’ll get Granny Smith.” She said walking upstairs. Prey gently placed Scootaloo on the couch as Applejack soon came back with an elderly bright green mare who had a small medical bag in hand.

“Well what do we have her dearie?” She said setting the bag down and pulling out a ice pack. “Where does it hurt?”

“Right here.” Scootaloo pointed out her ankle as Granny gently place the ice pack on her ankle.

“There ya go. Just keep that there and the pain with eventually go away.” The elderly mare then noticed Prey standing in the room. She greeted him with a warm smile. “Hello there dearie, I don’t think we’ve ever met before. Unless my sight’s acting up again.” She said rubbing her eyes.

Prey bowed formally towards the mare. “Hajimemashite. My name is Prey Striker.”

“Ha gee ma woo wha?” The mare responded with confusion from Prey’s language. “Well whatever you just said, It’s nice to meet you too. The name’s Granny Smith.” She said as she shook hands with Prey.

“Alright well since that’s taken care of, Ah gotta get back to buckin.” Applejack said as she started heading out. An idea then struck her head as she turned back to Prey. “Hey Prey, do you have a job yet?”

“I do not know. Does my samurai status count?”

“Well does it get ya bits?” Prey shook his head which cause Applejack to smile. “Well then why don’t you work for me? That way you can earn some bits that you could use to buy whatever you need.”

“Is that what you wish Applejack?”

“Beg ‘yer pardon?” She asked with a massive eyebrow raised.

“Do you want me to work for you for money?”

She groaned and dragged a hand across her face slightly cursing his samurai loyalty. “I want you to choose.” She commanded in a flat and unamused tone.

“Then I choose to work for you.” He said with a formal bow. All the ponies in the room looked in shock as Applejack was being treated with such respect, such formality, it was freaking weird.

“Well ahlright, you’ll start first thing tomorrow morin at 5 sharp.” She said as Prey bowed.

“Very well. I shall see you tomorrow. Ja mataashita.” Said as he started leaving Sweet Apple Acres. He kept walking until he was out of everyone’s sight.

“Ah didn’t know ya got yourself a boyfriend sis.” Applebloom commented, making her sister blush heavily like the apples in the orchard.

“He He’s not mah boyfriend! He’s just…..there’s a lot to explain. Ah’ll explain around dinner time.” She stated as she hurried back towards to orchard, hoping to avoid anymore conversation about the changeling.

He’s not mah boyfriend.

Ah’ve seen the way you look at him, he pretty sexy for a changeling.

Ah can’t date him, he’s not a pony. Plus Ah know nothing about him.

Does it really matter?

Ah...Ah guess not.

Then go get yerself a stallion!

“Grrrr!” She shook her head to get her conscience straight as she continued working.

Now walking back towards Ponyville, Prey began pondering what he would do now that he would now be working and serving his master Applejack. During his walk he started to hear a small noise in the distance, it almost sounded like a roar. The noise started getting louder, and louder, and louder, and-

“GET OUTTA THE WAY!” Recognizing that voice as Rainbow Dash, he quickly jumped high into the air and hovered with his wings. He caught a quick glimpse of the cyan mare zipping past underneath him like a bullet while leaving behind a trail of rainbow behind her. Within seconds she was out of his line of sights and heard later heard a loud boom echo in the distance.

“Oh….my. Not again.” Said a familiar timid voice behind Prey. He turned around to find Fluttershy with a worried look on her face. “I hope she’s okay.”

“Master Fluttershy, was that…..Master Rainbow Dash?” He asked with a shocked look on his face. He had never seen anything that fast before.

“Oh yes um….she’s really fast.” She stated as Prey look back in the direction where he heard the echoing boom.

“That is….very impressive.” He commended as a bead of sweat rolled down his head, he had been glad he was not in range of her crash. “Should we check to see if she is okay?” Fluttershy nodded as the two flew towards her crash site. The two found a moderately sized crater with a curled up cyan mare in the middle of it. Both Prey and Fluttershy landed next to Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow Dash are you okay?” Fluttershy asked picking up her friend and lightly patting her cheek. Rainbow eyes slowly opened and soon felt a splitting headache.

“Ughh, Owwwww. That’s something I’m not practicing again.” She looked up to find Fluttershy and Prey with her. “Oh hey guy, how awesome was that?”

“That was um...a little awesome. But that was also really dangerous Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy commented who shrunk back a little bit from her comment.

“I would agree with Master Fluttershy Rainbow Dash. It is in my opinion a bit dangerous.” Prey commented as Rainbow Dash groaned annoyingly.

“Alright fine I won’t do that again….today. I’ll do it again next week.” She said with a determined smile causing Fluttershy to sigh in disappointment. Rainbow stood up and brushed off any dirt off herself. She then looked at Prey and started to examine his stature. “Hey Prey, you wanna do me a favor?”

“What is it Rainbow Dash?”

“Lets race!” She said pointing towards Ponyville, more specifically Twilight’s Castle. “First one to Twilight’s castle wins.”

“Alright.” The two lined up together. Rainbow had a look of determination on her face, while Prey had a flat expression on his face.

“Also, since you’re about commands and all that. I command you to TRY and win, if you don’t then it’s alright. Alright!?” She asked as Prey nodded. She then turned to Fluttershy. “Alright Fluttershy, you count.”

“Oh just please be careful this time Rainbow.” She stood in front of the two with both of her arms raised up. “Okay, on your mark, get set, GO!” She slammed her arms down as both winged creatures took off in a heartbeat.

Rainbow and Prey kept soaring through the skies as Rainbow Dash was taking the lead. Soon Prey passed Rainbow make her scowl at him. She applied nearly all of her strength making the two now neck and neck and halfway towards the castle. Then finally with every ounce of strength in her body, she applied full speed as she was slowly inching past Prey.

Prey could see his swift master slowly passing him. He took one long breath as he focused all of energy onto his wings. He took a long look on his master focusing on her tactics and strategy. Within minutes his strength and energy was paying off as he soon passed her with speed.

The castle now in their clear sights Prey was sure he was going to beat his master, but he soon realized the speed of which he was traveling at, he was going too fast. With no time to think or stop in mid air, he thought of next best thing. He aimed for the ground in front of Twilight’s castle as he put his arms in front of him, bracing for impact.

“Kuso!” was all he could say before he crashed into the ground. The crash vibrated the ground around him leaving in a massive crater. His hearing became weak, all he could hear was ringing and slight waves of voices bounce in his ears. His vision was blurring and the last thing he could see was purple pink blur before fading into darkness.

Author's Note

Watashi no namae wa Twilight Sparkle Desu. = My name is Twilight Sparkle.

Hai. Iiyo = Yes. That is good.

Hai Hontou = Yes it is true.

Doo Itashimashite = You are welcome. (formal)

Konichiwa = Hello

Arigatoo = thank you (casual)

Domo Arigatoo Gozaimasu = Thank you very much (The most formal "thank you")

Kirei = pretty

Hajimemashite = It is nice to meet you

Ja, Mataashita = Well, See you tomorrow

Kuso- Shit/Damn