Author's Note

I figured I better change the rating because of a little darker content in this chapter. Its not much and it might not be necessary, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Burning my past.

"Greed" Twilight asked in confusion.

"Yes, greed. Six years ago, I won a record breaking lottery jackpot. It was so large, overnight I became the fifth richest man in a country of three hundred and twenty million people. A year later my family turned on me and basicly destroyed my life for the money. I luckily had hidden some for a fall back. I took it, changed my name and found the most remote area I could to live out my life. Before I went into my exile, I bought Ari to keep me company. And now here I am." I snorted and realized that in the short time I've been here, I'm far happier than I was before.

"I will do everything in my power to make sure you are happy everyday Tor. I'm also sure the other four Princesses will as well." Arianna spoke with conviction. Looking at the others, they was nodding their collective heads in affirmation.

"Just have patience with me, please. I'm better than I was, but I still have problems from time to time. Humans have a long memory and a traumatic event like that will stick with me for years. If you have questions ask Ari. She'll know the answers. Now, is there a gym or training center close? I haven't had a work out in a few days and can tell it."

"I can have a guard show you to their training grounds of that if suitable" Celestia commented. I nodded and she asked one of the guards to lead me there. Before I left, I turned and gave Ari a quick peck on the lips and told her I would see her later.

When we arrived at the training center I looked around and was impressed at the equipment they had , but of course it was designed for a ponies anatomy. I either had to adapt or design my own for my use. I only trained to keep myself in shape since before my problems I was kinda chunky. Deciding to get started, I found a clear area of grass and started with the basics. Stretches, pushups, sit ups and others. Then I found where they did their running and did two miles.

By the time I was done I had worked up a good sweat and could use a good bath. Walking the track to cool down, I finally noticed something. All of the guards were mares and they was pointedly staring at me. As I continued my cool down, a group of five approached me. A pegasus, three unicorns and a pair of earth ponies. This could be bad I thought as they stopped in my path and being considerate I stopped too.

"What's a fine hunk of stallion or whatever you are doing out here without a mare" one asked taking a deep breath " and one that smells good too." I was confused by the mares statement.

"What do you mean by that ma'am?"

"Stallions should stay at home where they are safe. Not doing what you have been doing for the last hour. You could hurt yourself and that would be bad for your mares because then you wouldn't be available for them" another answered. Then I remembered what Ari had told me about the gender imbalance. I guess polygamy is legal here then.

"Sorry, but I'm a one mare man and I don't think she'll be into sharing me right now. Besides, where I'm from, things work differently than here." I was hoping that my statement would get them to leave, but it didn't. Instead they got closer and surrounded me.

"Oh, come on. Its not like we would harm you. All mares have a natural aversion to harming a stallion and I'm sure your mare wouldn't mind us borrowing you for a little while, so to speak." My worry started to get worse right about then. Am I about to be gang raped by this group of mares? I figure that all ponies are naturally stronger than me, but I don't know by how much and knowing that, I doubt I could honestly run from them or fight them off. I needed to diffuse the situation before something happens, to me primarily.

"What is your name, if I can know?"

"Lieutenant Star Struck of Princess Arianna's Sky Guard." I smirked. Perfect.

"Then you know who I am." That got her to pause for a moment, then realization crossed her features.

"Your him. The one she has been looking for the last thousand years" she said with a hit of trepidation.

"Yes, I am" I answered nodding. "This is the first chance I've gotten to get a workout in. The gender balance is fifty/fifty where I'm from and monogamy is the rule. Besides, I will not break Ari's trust." Saying that, the mares started to back off.

"I...I'm sorry your Highness. We didn't know, please forgive us." I was taken aback by her words.

"Why did you call me that?"

"Because you are in a relationship with the Princess, you are basically a Prince yourself." Oh really I thought to myself. I believe it's time to sit down and talk to my Ari about this. Looking down to the now bowing mares, I decided then that I didn't like it.

"Stand up. I'm not one for that kind of shit and your forgiven. Just don't let it happen again."

"Of course, your Highness" they all echoed and took off. Great. This just added more to my plate I though heading back to the castle and a much needed shower.

I was currently standing in front of a mirror, checking myself before I got a shower. I had just glanced at it while walking by. What caught my attention was the fact that I didn't have as much grey in my midback length brown hair. I was fourty years old and with the stress I had been under the last few years, I had a lot of grey, but it seemed to be going away. So, I started to check over my six foot three inch frame to see what other changes I could see. Scanning my blue eyes over my body, I noticed that I had more muscle definition as well. It wasn't toned or body builder like, but you could see individual muscles easier. Of course I also weighed two hundred and seventy pounds. Something else I found odd was the crows feet around my eyes. They wasn't as numerous. Shrugging, I figured I'd ask Ari about it later.

I was walking back into Ari's bedroom, well I should say our bedroom now, with a towel around my waist and one on my head drying my hair when I felt two wings wrap around me. I wasn't too worried because a, the pony was tall and that left only two choices as to their identity and b, their scent. When we was on Earth, I would use a jasmine and vanilla scented product when I did Ari's rub downs and I seems she still likes that combination.

"And what are we doing" I asked teasingly.

"Holding on to my stallion for a moment."

"You act like I haven't been around in a month" I teased.

"You left at eight thirty this morning. Its a little after five right now. To me that is a month." I had to chuckle at the silly mare.

"What are you laughing for? I'm being serious here Tor."

"I'm not laughing at you Ari. I just find it funny that you are so possessive of me." Turning around, I looked into her eyes and could see the love and devotion they held for me.

"I can't help it. I've waited for your for a thousand years and now that I finally have you, I'm never going to let go. You are mine for eternity." What? I asked myself.

"You need to explain that as well as a few other things that's happening to me, as well as what one of your guards said to me earlier." She sighed and went to the bed. When she got settled she patted the spot next to her and waited for me. When I got settled she began.

"What's the first question?"

"Why did one of your guards say 'your Highness' to me earlier?"