Author's Note

No sex, just character development and some story! (Sorry, part of my nature to want some sort of story when I write clop XD)

Be prepared for plenty of clop in the next chapter though!

Chapter 3: New Friends

Thirty minutes after Applejack and Bard’s sex in the orchard:

Thankfully nopony had heard their rough and passionate love making, and now the two quietly carried back the barrels of apples. (Bard’s magic kept his cum nice and safe inside Applejack, which she was happy to feel sloshing around.) “Hey, Applejack… I have a uuh… proposition for you.”

“What is it? If it involves more sex… we can’t right now.” Applejack chuckled.

“No, no it’s not that.” He laughed, hugging her gently as she set down the last barrel. He nuzzled her neck. “Just, uuh, maybe instead of going out to perform today… I could meet the rest of your friends?”

“Gettin cold feet?” AJ joked. “Sure, if yah’d want to meet em… Ah’m sure Pinkie would want ta throw yah a party.”

“Oooh, a party?” He squeezed her tighter. “I can’t wait.”

“Just yah wait… yah’ll be changin yer tune real fast.” She laughed, “Let me get cleaned up first… an then we’ll go meet Twilight at her castle.”

“Alright I… can’t wait to meet her.” Bard seemed a bit more certain than the night before, she couldn’t help but feel it was because of their budding relationship that was causing him to change a little more.

“They’re all gonna just love yah… just really, be warned when yah meet Fluttershy… she’ll definitely try to take care of yah.” AJ warned as she stood up. “She means well by it…”

“Don’t worry. As long as she doesn’t treat me like I’m helpless.” He assured. “From what I’ve heard of her though, that won’t happen. She’ll just want to help me, right?”

“Yeah.” She smiled, “Why don’t Ah take yah to the living room…”

“Alright.” He smiled.

She lead him back into the house. “Hey, Big Mac?”

“Yeah?” Big Mac called out from the kitchen.

“Ah’m gonna take Bard ta meet the girls. Ah’m gonna leave enforcin Applebloom’s groundin to you. Make sure she don’t climb out through the window again.” She stated.

“Ah’ll make sure she stays inside this time.” Big Mac sighed.

“Thanks! Before we head out though, ah’m gonna go shower and change. Ah’ll be back down soon.”

Thirty minutes later:

The two were now just outside of Twilight’s castle.

“Are yah sure yah wanna do this?” Applejack asked, glancing to Bard. “Yah might get overloaded.” Though she was joking about him getting overloaded she was serious about asking if he wanted to do it.

“I’m sure.” Bard nodded. “One hundred percent. I mean, what’s really the worst that could happen?”

“We find out yer lyin about bein blind and yah get outcasted fer bein even worse than Thu-”

“Shush.” He closed her mouth. “No more words. They’re useless where we’re going.” She grabbed his hand and pulled it off her snout.

“Don’t do that.” She stated.

“Don’t say the bastard’s name.” He retorted.

“Yah asked what the worst that could happen would be.”

“Again, why the hell would I lie about being blind? It’s shitty and the last thing I want is pity. This is who I am.” He sighed.

“Ah know. Yah proved ta me yet a more than capable stallion.” She teased. “Ah wonder…”

“What?”

“How do yah feel about herdin?” She inquired.

“Uuh… I don’t like to cheat on partners?” He asked hoping that was the right answer because he really didn’t like that question.

“Ah wasn’t askin that ta trap yah. Ah was askin cause things might happen if yer constantly left alone. ‘Specially ‘round Pinkie. She’s… a bit insane at times.” She assured him. “Besides, somethin tells me yer in need of plenty of ponies that’ll love yah fer who yah are.”

“I never honestly thought about it… like what happened today was an anomaly for me. I… sort of resigned to my being used for pity points for a while. Being treated like a helpless colt… then you set something off that I couldn’t stop.” He sighed.

“Ah’m tellin yah now, so long as yah don’t skip out on me, or if’n yah get with mah friends too… just so long as yah don’t abandon us… and they don’t treat us horribly…”

“You… want to make a herd.” He said in disbelief.

“Ain’t mah choice if yah want to. It’s only mah choice to stay or leave.” She put a hand on his shoulder.

“Look… if it comes up. I might. I won’t go looking to make one, your… well perfect for me. So far you haven’t treated me as anything less then a friend… and I’ll be damned if sex with you wasn’t mind blowing.” He smiled, leaning in to give her a small kiss. “If it never comes up… well, it’s just you and me then. And that’d make me just as happy as any herd.”

“Don’t get sappy.” She joked, “Now, before we get caught… why don’t we have yah meet Twilight?” She grabbed his hand and lead him into the castle. She noticed the soft twinge of magic he had around him (she and her friends were more sensitive to noticing it thanks to Twilight) died down to nothing. “What happened to yer aura?”

“I… trust you not to lead me to anything dangerous. So, I don’t need it.” He said, causing her to smile a little more.

“Ah hope yah feel the same way towards Twilight, cause you an her are gonna be gettin real familiar. Yer… ehm, not tryin ta insult yah here, but, yer strange magic’s gonna definitely get her interested.”

“Don’t worry about calling my weird ass magic strange. That’s the least insulting thing you could have called it!” He laughed.

Applejack smiled once again, “Alright… now, let’s get yah in ta meet Twi.” She pushed the throne room doors open, Twilight let out a long sigh as she looked over the Friendship Map from her throne.

“Twi, there’s somepony here Ah want yah to meet!” AJ called, causing her friend to look up with a smile.

“Oh really, who is it?” Twilight stood up and started to straighten her dress out.

“Don’t bother, he can’t see.” AJ said, “This, is Bard.” She introduce the blind unicorn.

“He’s… oh my. It’s nice to meet you Bard!” She said happily, walking towards him. “Is it… um…”

Bard let out a loooong exasperated sigh.

“Twi… just treat him like any other pony. He may be blind, but he definetly ain’t helpless… well he won’t be once he gets ta know the town.” AJ explained.

“Oh! Okay.” She smiled. “Sorry Bard… it’s just… um…”

“It’s fine Princess.” He smiled, his aura coming back to life. Twilight’s eyes widened and her horn lit up, his aura was completely traced out now.

“Woah…” Twilight mumbled. “That’s amazing… d-does it work to help you find things?” She inquired, her smile growing.

“It works something like a primitive form of echo location. It… can’t help me see colors, words, just vague outlines. It helps me move around when I’m alone, or when I want to do something on my own… I don’t usually do things like shopping alone… it’s too hard, and ponies attempt to take advantage of me.” Bard explained. “I usually have it going constantly… and beside it I’ve developed the capability to use several spells like in at once. So, if I feel like I’m in danger…” He threw up a light blue shield around the three of them. “Or if I feel like I’m being watched or listened to, I can also use a muting spell that prevents any sound or light from leaving the inside of the shield.” He continued, dropping the shield completely.. “Those types of things are easy for me… teleportation, telekinesis… things that require sudden bursts of energy, I… have trouble gauging the power. And I tend to drain myself if I use them in a hurry. I never… really used them when I was trying to learn magic, as my instructors… well since I couldn’t read they gave up on me with those sorts of things.”

“I can help you with that.” Twilight grinned. “So, um, what else can you do with your mag-” She was cut off as he grinned widely, now he pulled out his steel telescoping rod.

“This.” He stated, whipping it out, it stopped extending after only a moment. His light blue magic surrounded the rod, creating what could easily be identified as a guitar. “It’s… really my actual specialty. I love music and sound.” He sounded genuinely happy to be talking about it. “In my hands, this rod, with it’s Celeraium crystal core… down here in the handle…” He flipped it around, the guitar shape vanishing. Twilight took it and examined the crystal. “With my magic I can form the shape of any instrument I’ve had the time to examine. It can produce and mimic the sounds said instrument would make to a T. It comes out to whatever tuning I desire, as long as I’ve heard it.”

“That’s amazing… c-could you play something?” Twilight asked. “Before you do… um, I’ll go have some of the gu-”

“Ah’ll go get the girls. Rarity’s probably wantin to see him today… Dash definitly will want ta see him again…” Applejack began.

“Wait, Rarity and Dash met him already?” Twilight asked curiously. “When did you arrive?” She handed him back his magical augment.

“Yesterday… um, my ‘friend’ dragged me here. I was heh… looking for something new…” He joked, causing both Applejack and Twilight to just stare at him for a moment. He didn’t need to see their faces (if he could) to know they didn’t find amusment in his joke. “Come on, it was funny! At least I thought it was…” He grumbled.

AJ whispered to Twilight, “Thunderlane abandoned him alone on a bench in town after he found a mare ta take home. Sweetie was the one who found him an invited him into her house to spend the night. Dash, me, and Rarity…”

“Rarity and I.” Twilight corrected, causing AJ to roll her eyes.

“Yeah, whatever… we got back early. An, we found him passed out in Sweetie’s arms. Yah can imagine Rarity was none to pleased at the sight until she found out why Sweetie had brought him in… never seen her turn face so quick. Today, she and Sweetie are cleanin out a guest room fer him to stay in. He slept in mah family’s guest room last night. An tried ta help with apple buckin in the mornin after he met mah family.” The farm mare explained.

“Mmm.” Twilight muttered. “I have an idea… but I’ll wait until everypony else is here.”

“What idea is that?” AJ asked.

“Like I said, I’ll just tell everypony at once what it is.” Twilight assured, “Of course… I’ll inform Bard about it to see if he likes the idea. But until then, you don’t need to worry. If Rarity can’t get her guest room cleared out today… well he can just stay here!”

“Sugar cube…” AJ glanced back to Bard who had now sat down, just waiting to talk again. “He’s fine ta stay with me. Mah family already likes him, Granny Smith was tellin him a lot at breakfast…”

“Applejack, I’m not saying he’d be forced to remain in the castle, or even insinuating he was treated badly. I don’t know. It was just a suggestion.” Twilight assured.

“Ah know.” AJ laughed, “Ah’ll go out and gather the gals.” She said, slowly walking to the throne room doors.

“Have a good time!” Bard said, only turning his head a little when he heard Twilight take a seat beside him.

AJ smiled widely, knowing it was all going to go well.

“So, you said you were going to perform something?” Twilight asked curiously. “I… I don’t want to force you to.”

“Princess…”

“Twilight or Twilight Sparkle works just fine. You don’t have to be formal around me. You’re my friend.” Twilight put a hand on his shoulder.

“Alright… thank you. It makes me feel a little less…”

“Stressed?”

“Yeah. Well… Twilight. I have no fear of performing to anypony. I got over that a long time ago.” He smiled, slowly pushing the rod back down to a smaller size. “How about a small violin piece?” He offered.

“Anything would be great.” Twilight leaned back and smiled widely.

“Great! Just sit back and listen.” He grinned as the form of a violin was created around the rod and he began to play.

A bit later:

Applejack was leading the other mares into the throne room when they all stopped.

“That was absolutely dirty!” They heard Twilight roar before she broke down into laughter and giggles.

“I’m already going to hell, I’m not being dragged down alone!” Bard laughed aloud, they heard a crash and an end to the laughter before they both started laughing again.

“Well, it sounds like they’re having fun.” Dash chuckled.

“I’d hope so!” Rarity smiled, “I’m sure he’s an absolute doll…” She looked to Applejack.

“He’s really nice.” AJ shrugged. “He’s doin the best he can with what he’s given. Just…”

“Dooon’t worry! I’m gonna treat him right.” Pinkie said with a giggle.

“I can’t wait to meet him if Twilight likes him this much.” Fluttershy smiled.

“All of yah will like him a lot.” Applejack assured, the five mares now walking into the throne room.

“There you are!” Twilight stood up, she used her magic to help Bard up who had fallen to the floor when he tipped his chair over.

“Oooh, that was far too good.” Bard grinned turning to the mares who just entered. “It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Bard.” He introduced himself.

“It’s nice to meet you too Bard.” Fluttershy said, “I’m Fluttershy.” She walked towards him, only to get cut off as Pinkie attempted to bull rush the poor stallion. Twilight only just barely managed to hold Pinkie’s full speed off.

“I’m Pinkie Pie! It’s great to meet you!” Pinkie introduced herself, smiling happily at him.

“Um… l-likewise?” Bard took a step back.

“H-how the hell are you…” Twilight muttered.

“Pinkie calm down.” Rainbow Dash stated.

Twilight slowly set Pinkie down on the opposite side of the Friendship Map.

“So, Twi, yah said yah had an idea, right?” Applejack began moving to Pinkie’s side to hold her down.

“Right. Everypony why don’t you sit down?” Twilight nodded. “I already talked it over with Bard after his violin performance… and let me tell you, he has some real skill with it… reminds me a lot of Octavia with her cello. Hm… I’ll… make a note to have you two meet sometime.”

All of the mares sat down, however Fluttershy took a seat, surprisingly beside Bard. She grabbed his hand and gave it a warm squeeze, causing him to smile a little.

“So… he doesn’t have a home in town.” Twilight began.

“Really? He can stay with me!” Fluttershy said quickly. “I mean… if you’d like to.”

“Oh darling… he’s already going to stay with me.” Rarity said. “Though…” She looked to Applejack for a moment. “I’m sure he has… other preferences doesn’t he?” She mused.

“Whatcha accusin me of now?” Applejack glared at the fashionista.

“Heh… why so defensive over that notion, AJ? Got something to hide?” Dash joked.

Twilight sighed, as now Rainbow Dash was pulled into the fray.

“Yah need ta shut yer mouth!” Applejack snapped, glaring at the cyan pegasus.

“Or what?” Dash challenged.

“ACTUALLY! If more than just Rarity, Applejack, and I, were going to offer him a place to sleep. We talked about having him stay with a different pony every few nights, or however it was fully decided upon.” Twilight stated, causing everypony to look back to her. “It’d get him to um…”

Bard started to snicker.

“Experience… different fascets of life in Ponyville, as well as live a more varied lifestyle. He’d meet different ponies and have chances to do different things depending on who he was with.” Twilight began.

“Come on… you missed a perfect…”

“I’m not going to say stupid sight based puns! Just because you find them funny doesn’t mean I do!” Twilight retorted.

“Fiiine. Go ahead and just kill my vision of a perfect and punny future.” Bard mumbled.

Twilight and Applejack both outright ignored him.

Rainbow Dash stared at him for a moment before grinning widely.

“Applejack, code orange.” Twilight stated.

Applejack stood up and grabbed Rainbow Dash, covering her mouth. The fiery pegasus managed to twist her way out, shooting over to where Fluttershy (Who was giggling quietly now) and Bard (who had a shiteating grin on his face) to sit down beside him.

“You and I are going to be great friends.” Dash grinned.

“I can’t wait!” Bard chuckled.

Rarity let out a long sigh after she composed herself. “Great, now we have two ponies to crack terrible jokes…” She groaned.

“I thought it was funny!” Pinkie said, now Applejack and Twilight realized she was unrestrained again, but she remained stationary. Though they realized she had shifted posistions completely.

“Pinkie… w-where did you go in those…” Twilight gawked.

“Three point zero two seconds? I planned a full party for Bard, silly! He can’t just come into town and get away with not having a party!” Pinkie said happily.

“Right… right, I should have figured.” Twilight sighed.

“So, who’s he sleeping with tonight? I’d LOOOVE to have him stay with me!” Pinkie said happily. She was now right behind Bard, causing Fluttershy, Bard, and Rainbow Dash to tense up. She whispered quietly into his ear. “That way the party doesn’t have to end early…”

“Wh… aah…” Bard mumbled, nearly choking on his own breath.

“Oooh! I need to get you a present! I need to get ribbons… wrapping paper… AND tell everypony that there’s a party tonight! I gotta go!” Pinkie completely vanished.

“W-what is she?” Bard mumbled now that the pink mare was gone.

“If Discord is Chaos incarnate. She’s the step above him.” Twilight said quietly.

“Don’t… question what she does or can do. It’ll save your sanity.” Rainbow Dash said.

“I’ll… t-try not to.” Bard mumbled.

“Oh you poor thing… you’re so tense. Maybe you should tell Pinkie not to sneak up on you? I’m sure she’d listen.” Fluttershy squeezed his hand with both of hers, causing Bard to relax a little more.

“She never listens to anypony…” Rarity sighed. “I still get weird things in the mail because of her… and she could just hand them to me herself! Instead noooo I get random packages during times when I’m with a client!”

“Rares… just don’t worry about it.” Applejack said.

“One time a glitter bomb exploded before I even opened it! It scared off two potential clients!” Rarity groaned. “Though… she managed to get them back…”

“Bard, you just need to tell her your limits, and I know she’ll listen to them.” Fluttershy assured.

“I’ll try the next time I talk to her.” Bard said.

“So… I’d give her a good three hours before the full party… she’ll want all of us there in what… two?” Twilight began. “Probably she’ll want Bard there in one that way sh… right. Um, maybe she’ll have you try some of the pastries and sweets she makes? I dunno… it’s really up to what she decides to do.”

“Well… I guess I’ll try to find my wa-”

“She’ll come to you.” The five remaining mares said.

“Great. She’ll… come to me.” Bard sighed. “It’s just a waiting game…”