In the serene yet short time of twilight, with the last rays of the setting sun still dimly illuminating the skies above me, I was unhurriedly walking along the streets of this strange town. Parching heat of the day swapped for a pleasant freshness of the night. The air was still damp after a brief rain, organized by a local pegasi weather team, clearing the dusty atmosphere of the busy town. I inhaled this refreshing air deeply yet another time. Even in this place of dust and sand, the air of this world was times cleaner than the air of any modern town on Earth.

Our trio had a nice dinner on the first floor of the hotel. Girls came downstairs in a good mood, and even Lily’s embarrassment was nowhere to be seen anymore. I didn’t pry the issue, however, to avoid disturbing Lily’s peace of mind. Sapphira is a smart girl. She’ll tell me if I need to know anything, I suppose. I’ve already proven to myself to have much less edge in such things. As I was leaving the hotel, crossing the hall on the first floor, I noticed the bar resumed its work again, and the number of patrons had increased drastically, making the place noisy. I hope the room is soundproof enough to sleep peacefully.

Why am I walking alone on the streets then? That’s because Lily relayed Luna’s wish to meet me tonight, before her departure, tet-a-tet. Must be something important. Once more, I had to spend quite a time convincing the girls that I’ll be fine going there alone. Remembering the road was easy, and I was sure I won’t encounter any trouble just walking on the streets. Moreover, they need rest, especially Lily.

At this hour, there were fewer people on the streets, illuminated by the magical crystal lanterns. It wasn’t late yet, so some shops and establishments were still working, attracting people strolling the evening streets. Naturally, my person is attracting quite a lot of curious gazes, but it is not disturbing me much, as long as nobody tries to find trouble with me.

Turning another corner, I walked into the street leading to the warehouse district. I felt yet another gaze on my back, but paid little attention to it, as it was happening all the way here. Ever since I made improvements in terms of my power, this was a regular occurrence to me. I can feel attention directed at me, especially gazes. It’s like an instinctive thing, out of the boundaries of regular logic, but it has never failed me so far. The gears in my head trembled and started moving when I noted this gaze was lingering on my back for some time already. A minute later, my paranoia, which I thought I left back in the jungle, raised its head again and forced me to take action. I cursed at myself silently for leaving my dagger in the hotel room.

I turned my head back briefly, looking around the area and a certain direction from which I felt the gaze, but I didn’t see anyone suspicious, and that place was empty. Careless ponies strolled back and forth on the streets, but nobody looked at me at the moment. I shook my head in confusion as that strange feeling of being watched disappeared. I turned into a side alley, intending to change streets and shake off whoever was tailing me, or at least to get rid of that disturbing feeling if it was a false alarm. Perhaps I’m just being overly cautious, and it is a coincidence, or maybe just some overly curious pony that was following me.

Going down the parallel street, I thought I was done with this issue, until I felt the same gaze on my back again. Turning around, I saw nothing. Not a soul was behind me, save for a few griffons and ponies in the distance. I walked further, not giving away any more signs I detected my — stalker. A dark side alley was on the left side just ahead of me. I strayed to the left side of the street and quickly scuttled away into the darkness of the alley when I reached the turn. I rushed to hide behind an empty street stall on the left, blending in with the surrounding darkness. My sense of life was already working on full throttle, but its range was not that good, so I waited in hiding.

Soon, I heard hardly audible rustle and a certain presence appeared on my ‘radar’. This is… probably a pony, or a quadruped of the same size at the very least, judging by my experiences so far. I don’t believe I won’t be able to contend with a pony should the need arise. What bewildered me is that I saw nothing in that place with my eyes, but there must be something! The creature moved into the alley and stopped in its tracks not too far from me. It had obviously lost my tracks and was thinking what to do. I moved out of my hiding place in a careful and silent stride, positioning myself behind that creature.

“Halt! Show yourself! I know you are here, and I won’t be asking twice.” I said in a stern and loud voice, glaring at the place where the presence was.

In return, I heard a girlish yelp as the air trembled in waves before me, revealing a pony’s figure covered with a brown cape. Its abrupt movement made its hood fall from its head, revealing a familiar face. It was the frightened face of Princess Twilight Sparkle. I exhaled, and my body finally relaxed. Was she using some camouflage spell?

“Princess Twilight Sparkle?” A wry smile appeared on my face. “Care to explain this?” I asked sarcastically.

Princess’ mouth opened and closed several times as her eyes grew wide.

“Uh… please calm down, Princess. Sorry if I’ve frightened you, but you did the same to me when you followed me for so long.” I said in a calm voice.

Twilight Sparkle finally got herself together, producing a sheepish smile. “Sorry, mister…” She looked at me quizzically.

“Ray. You can call me Ray, Princess Twilight.”

“Yes, mister Ray, I… I… just… uh…” Twilight tried to explain herself, probably, but could not choose the right words, her eyes darting about in panic.

I sighed, first she stalked me and now she's calling me mister? As if this hair of mine wasn't making me feel old enough already. I scratched the back of my head, feeling the already very noticeable stubble of my growing hair. Well, at least I should not look completely bald now.

“Just forget it, Princess, but for how long were you at it?”

“Since I’ve found the hotel you have stopped at. An hour, maybe… or two… was it more?” She mumbled the last words under her breath, her brows furrowed in thought.

My hand touched my forehead. She’s a trouble; hopefully, not a big one. At least she is quite humble, for a princess, and strange, too. “Well, it’s not up to me to talk about strangeness here.” I laughed internally at this thought and decided not to judge her too harshly for it.

“Was it worth it wasting your time like that? If you wanted to find me, there were much easier ways to do that, I’m sure. Well, alright, now that I’m standing before you, do you have some business with me, Princess?” I cut to the chase. “Why don’t we talk while we walk? I was going to meet Princess Luna this evening, and I guess you’re going to that place too.”

Twilight’s face brightened up when I put aside the main issue. We walked back into one of the major streets leading to the warehouse district.

“Actually, I just wanted to ask some questions about your kind, and some about your exploits in the jungle, too. I’ve never seen anypony like you! How are you species called? Where are you from? Why are you wearing so much clothes? And where are your mane and fur? If you’re ill, we can use magic to…” Twilight threw questions at machinegun speed.

“Wait, wait, wait, Princess, that’s too many questions in one line.” I raised both my hands in protest. Twilight only smiled awkwardly. Yes, I’m beginning to understand Lily’s reaction to this… princess. But! Compared to Lily, I have an advantage in that I’m not obliged to obey her every order, unless I’m threatened by her royal authority, that is. However, she does not look like the one to abuse her power, so I can just dodge all the inconvenient questions.

Twilight fell into thought for a moment, then her ears shot up, as she asked abruptly. “Oh! How did you find me, mister Ray? I’m sure I’ve cast my concealment spell nigh perfectly.”

“Just Ray will be enough.”

“Then call me Twilight, please.” She tried to put on a friendly smile, but it came out somewhat strained.

Pausing for a second, I thought it over before replying. “Alright, Twilight.” It’s not the first time a princess has asked me to do so, but this time it comes just… naturally. She is much younger, I think. Twilight beamed at me after I said her name. “As for how I noticed… I felt you. I felt your gaze on my back. Then, in the alley, I felt your presence when you came closer. Also, you made some noise while moving.”

“That’s incredible! How do you do that?” A notebook with a writing feather appeared before her out of the blue, and she seemed to be ready to note down my answers.

“Is it necessary?” I nodded towards the notebook.

“Of course! Your answers are of utmost importance for science!”

“I really doubt they are.” I shook my head, unamused by her billowing enthusiasm. “Look, Twilight, I’m not asking you how unicorns use their magic or how pegasi fly. It is not something that can be explained with words, right? Even if I try to explain, will you be able to understand?”

“I can explain how magical energy works inside our bodies. First it…”

“Pardon me, Twilight, but I’m speaking of your personal control, about how you do it, not its workings inside your body.”

Twilight stopped in her tracks, putting a hoof to her chin, she looked to be deep in thought, mulling over an answer, although it just resulted in her sagging her withers. Propping down her foreleg once more though, her slight frown turned right back around as I could practically see the light bulb above her head before she resumed walking.

“Oh, right, then… I’ve heard you possess some uncommon healing magic. Can you show me? Magic is my forte, so I want to know every small bit of new information!”

I thought for a second. Well, it worked with Luna, more or less. Perhaps she will leave me alone if I show her and she won’t be able to sense and understand it properly.

“Then look, Twilight.” I said with a little smirk.

I held out my hand to her, palm up, not stopping walking forward. Soon, greenish-yellow wisps of faint light slipped from my fingertips, circling upon my palm, slowly congregating into a more visible ball of light. Twilight looked with interest at this show. Her horn flared with intense magic power as she tried to scan the ball with it. Her magic aura touched the sphere and then surprisingly enough, skimmed over my body as well. “Do ponies not know the concept of personal space or something?”

“Huh? Nothing? But how… That shouldn’t… Why?” Twilight seemed confused. “What is that, mist- Ray? And why is your body devoid of magic?”

“That’s my pure, raw energy, and no, my body is not devoid of magic. It’s filled with the same energy you see before you.”

“Incredible! You say it’s raw? But raw magic is violent, we usually use it in the form of destructive magic rays!” Twilight overtook me and stood in front, making me stop. She was intently watching the glowing ball.

“Twilight?” She seemed to forget about everything else, her face shifting expressions from bewilderment to deep thought, sliding to slight irritation towards the end. My voice had finally gone through to her.

“Ah… sorry. Can I touch it?” Twilight asked with enthusiasm.

“Go ahead. My magic is too bad for destruction, as you can see.”

Twilight carefully moved her hoof towards the sphere and dabbed it, but as soon as she did, the sphere enveloped her hoof and was absorbed into her body.

“What happened? Where has it gone?” Twilight observed her hoof, but found nothing wrong with it. “Oh, I feel strangely — refreshed. Is it a ‘stamina recovery’ spell? No, it does not have that unnatural feel to it…” Twilight said to herself, most likely, and looked at me. Her eyes seemed to have a strange light in them, and I didn’t like it one bit.

“Is something wrong? Let’s stop just standing in the middle of the street, Twilight.” I said, as I resumed my stride.

Twilight followed, and her gait was strange, raising hooves high. Her burning enthusiasm was on full display.

“Did you cast a spell, Ray?” she finally asked with a toothy smile. “Tell me which one it was!”

“No, I did nothing. Just… nothing. Your body has absorbed it, that’s all.”

“Are you absolutely sure?”

“I am.” I nodded.

“That’s fantastic! We must research it… No!” she interrupted herself, scribbling something in her notebook at lightning speed. “I need to check the Canterlot Archives first. There must be at least something there.” Towards the end, she was again talking to herself. Then inexplicably she remembered my existence again, launching into a tirade of various questions regarding my ‘magic’ and origins all the way, filling in her notebook with more and more entries. Though I didn’t give her more details than just the basics and my legend. The purple pony-shaped questionnaire also wanted to know how I could open the magic doors of that building back in the jungle, but I did not know myself. I could understand magic to some degree, but that’s just theory based on some minor similarities to my power, and I’ll never be able to use it myself, anyway.

Looking ahead, as Twilight went on another ramble about magic theory, I noticed we were closing in on our location. A huge silvery metal wheel atop the sign was hard to miss even from a distance, as it shined in the moonlight with countless reflections of street lamps. ‘Silver Wheel’, quite a match with the name of the pony who runs the place, as well as the style of Luna.

“Ray! Do you want to come to Ponyville with me? I have a lot of equipment there and we…”

I interrupted her patter. “Sorry, Twilight, but I’ll have to disappoint you. I have a lot of other important things to do here.”

Twilight’s ears drooped as she made puppy eyes, trying to convince me with that vile pony technique. This is evil, I tell you! But this time it won’t work, though the unconscious desire to grab and pet her, until she is happy again, still appeared in my mind. By this time, we were already close to the Shadow Guard compound.

“Ray, I can even pay you to take part in my research…” She tried another method.

Is that a proposition?

“No, Twilight, I can’t just drop everything and go with you. Besides, I hate being a freeloader, and I have my companions with me.”

Twilight sighed in dejection, entering the back door as I held it for her. “Thanks,” — she turned her head to me — “then at least come visit me if you ever come to Ponyville,” she said with a humble smile. “We are leaving tomorrow, but you probably know it already. Just ask around how to get to ‘Castle of Friendship’ and you will find me in no time.”

“What a strange name for a castle,” I thought. “Alright, Twilight, I’ll keep it in mind.”

Twilight fell silent for a moment, before asking, “Do you want to be my friend, Ray?” She looked at me expectantly.

This question confused me. “Twilight, even if I want to, will just calling you my friend really make me your friend?” Her naivety irked me somewhat. I can tell ponies are often like that, but what if some bastard tries to use that side of their personality? Besides, I’m not that fond of lying to anyone in the face that I’m their friend when I don’t see them as such, at least yet. Also, she is a princess. Shouldn’t she be more discerning and cautious?

“Pardon? I don’t quite understand…”

“Look, Twilight, friendship bonds can’t be created that easily. For a true friend, I’m willing to risk my life, and trust them my back any time any day. This takes time, Twilight. Do you have such friends?”

Twilight fell in thought. “I can tell at least six, and there must be more!”

“I’m happy for you, Twilight, to have so many, but take my advice not to trust people you just met blindly, like me right now. Not all of them will be honest with you and have good intentions.”

“That… I know what you mean. Such things… happened before.” Twilight made an awkward smile. “But Princess Luna trusts you, and so I can, too. I’m called a Princess of Friendship for a reason. So,” — she looked me in the eye innocently — “friends?” She held out her hoof to me, smiling.

I sighed and chuckled before shaking her purple hoof. “Alright, friends it is, then,” I said, surrendering to her. Twilight had a radiant smile on her face as she looked into my eyes. She is weird even for a pony, but does not seem that bad.

“Oh!” Twilight said in alarm. “Did I delay you much? Sorry.”

“Not at all, but I think I better go to meet Princess Luna now and not make her wait any longer.”

Twilight nodded in agreement. We said our goodbyes and she once again reminded me to come to Ponyville, then trotted away towards the building nearby, and I walked to the pair of Luna’s personal guards, who had been watching me ever since I appeared in this place. Luckily, the one who dislikes me was not here. After having minimal conversation, they escorted me to the same building Twilight went to and brought me to the third floor, leaving me alone before a luxurious-looking door. Well, everything around looked luxurious, to be honest.

My hand was already raised to knock on the door when it opened by itself, a trace of dark cobalt aura around it.

“Come in.” Luna’s voice was as soft and pleasant as always. Stepping in, I was met by the sight of her half-lying on a luxurious soft couch. This must be a room meant for relaxation and recreation. The soft light from the ceiling illuminated the middle of the room, leaving the sides slightly dim. Before the couch stood a round table with various refreshments and wine bottles of fancy design. The door closed behind me subtly.

“My favorite human is finally here.” Luna’s smile told volumes about her current mood.

“Well, I’m the only human who can be here. Glad to see you too, Luna.” I returned a smile. Honestly, to say I’m glad is an understatement. Ever since that strange magic incident during the day I feel profoundly comfortable in her presence, even with all my past anxiety about the royalty I had before. This is yet another fact I can’t help, but just accept as is, at least for now. “Is there anything urgent that you need my presence for?”

Luna giggled, covering her mouth with a hoof. “Come sit, Ray.” She tapped her hoof at her side, prompting me to sit right beside her. “I hope you can excuse this bored princess for dragging you out from the sweet embrace of your marefriends,” Luna said in a playful tone.

I chuckled curtly. “They are tired and could use some extra sleep. I’m sure they are already snoring together in bed, but I can still stay up for a few more hours.” I plopped on a couch, which was a little too low for me, sinking into its softness. “So, what are we going to do?”

“Do delicious snacks, Moon Road and having a pleasant chat sound good?” Luna turned her body to have a better view of me.

“Of course it does. That means no serious business for tonight? I’m in!” I said with a laugh.

“That’s the spirit! That’s how friends should spend their time together. Ah… it’s been a long while since the last time I had something like this with someone outside my family circle. The hypocritical aristocrats and diplomats don’t count, of course, they are all so fake… We should have been like that from the start, Ray. Ah, I’m talking too much again. Let’s raise our glasses to celebrate your successful escape!” Luna used her magic to uncork the bottle swiftly and pour us two chalices of Moon Road.

“All thanks to you, Luna.” I took a glass from her magic grip and clinked it with her, smiling.

We kept talking about the happenings of the day. Shadow Guard tried to get as much info on the tunnel collapse from the more shady part of the townsfolk, but it didn’t bring any decent results so far. I, in turn, told Luna my impressions of the Appleloosa and the pony society as a whole. I had answered honestly about my mixed feelings, but my overall evaluation of everything was on a positive side, which pleased Luna.

There was a glass to her successful expedition, which found nothing, then she joked that she had found me and it was worth another one. Yet one more was raised to my ‘herd’. By that time I was beyond just being tipsy as I showered her with funny and curious stories from my past life, probably giving her much more facts about it and the Earth as a whole than I intended, but I couldn’t care less. Man, she listened to my stories with such interest, but then… Luna started pouting for some reason.

“Ray!” Luna said with a bit of displeasure. “Are we friends?”

“Of course we are. Why do you even ask?” I could not get her hints.

“Then why are you,” — she pointed her hoof at me — “sitting so far away from me?”

“Oh, damn, I have a drunk capricious princess demanding attention here, what am I supposed to do knowing almost nothing about this part of their culture?” I thought to myself, unsure of what to do.

“That’s wrong!” Luna moved closer to me on the couch until she was almost on my lap. She reclined her body against the sofa’s back, leaning on my side, and resting her head on my shoulder. “That’s how ponies do it with friends. Cuddle together… and hug,” Luna murmured into my ear.

That was the final straw which broke a camel’s back. I was resisting the urge to just grab this big soft-looking pony into my arms, then cuddle, pet and spoil her like a big blue cat for quite a time already, and my drunken mind had ignored her esteemed status completely. I slowly turned to her, then my arms embraced and pressed her gently to my chest. My free hand wove through her magical, ever-waving mane and scratched behind her fluffy ears. A satisfied, quiet whimper was an answer to all and any questions which popped inside my head.

“A bit lower, Ray… Oh, yes, that’s the spot,” Luna said in a dreamy, slightly tipsy voice. “That’s so relaxing. I should have just ordered you to go to Canterlot with me. I could use… your helping hand to relieve my stress after my nightly duties or infuriating political meetings.” She chuckled. “Pray tell, do your culture frown upon friendly hugs and cuddles? I can see you like it, and you can’t hide it from me, but you hesitated so much…”

I sighed before I spoke. “We rarely do that with girls who are just friends.” My drunken thoughts stopped in a crash. Right now I want to just punch myself in the face… Why the hell I just had to phrase it that awkwardly?

Luna raised her gaze. It looked like her eyes were smiling. She giggled, probably at my funny face at this moment.

“You don’t do it with girls, then… perhaps you do that with your stallion friends?” She had a sly smirk on her face.

I coughed at this unexpected question. “Why should I do it with them?”

Luna laughed. “Yes, your reaction is exactly like I supposed it would be. Your culture seems to have some similarities to minotaurs in this regard. They are always trying to look serious, but I tell you, even they hug with their friends, especially when they get drunk on their ‘fire water’ or something similarly strong and crazy.” Luna touched my cheek with her hoof, while I was still embracing her. “It’s normal for ponies to do it, stallions do it too, with no weird meaning behind it. That’s the way we are. Like this, we are strengthening our bonds. Sorry if I sound like lecturing you, but I think you should know it.”

“I… I see.”

“So,” — Luna’s smile grew wider, — “what were you talking about ‘just friends’, Ray? Do you perhaps see me as something more than ‘just a friend’, then?”

“Fuck — my — life! What am I supposed to say now? My tongue is my enemy.” Both positive and negative answers can pin me down, though in different ways. What’s worse, she can mysteriously tell when I’m not speaking the truth, but she interrupted me before I could think of something.

“I think we should have another one for that.” Luna chuckled and quickly poured us another chalice. Well, this might be a bad choice, but it certainly can be a solution to my conundrum. Just get a little bit more wasted, and the problem at hand might seem not so big anymore. “Yes, not a problem at all.” Such thought traced my mind, disappearing into haze right after, as the heavenly drink spread through my bloodstream.

“So?” Luna raised the issue again with great interest and enthusiasm.

“I… I — don’t know, Luna.” My words got slightly messy as the magic alcohol finally had its effect on me. “Maybe. I feel good around you… And you are the only… the only one, apart from Sapphi and Lily, who knows, well, true me… almost true me. You’ve been inside of my mind, literally. It’s… strange.” I was talking while my hand was busy scratching her ears or stroking her neck, my fingers gliding through her supple, dark fur. Luna’s eyes were half-closed from the pleasure. Doing it calmed my mind greatly, helped by the Moon Road.

Luna caressed my cheek with her soft hoof. “You’ve been inside my head as well, quite literally so, I’d say.” Luna tittered briefly. “It was a bit different, I’ll admit, but still… I can’t stop thinking about you ever since.” She sighed blissfully as my fingers straightened a tangle in her fur. “Why do your — fingers feel so good? The way you touch me… It makes me forget about all my worries and just enjoy the moment...” Luna closed her eyes for a while. “Ray, you really do not see me as a monster, or a threat, even after all you have seen. Sometimes, I have a faint unnerving feeling that my own sister… fears me. She may try to hide it, but sometimes, when she is distressed… It’s hard to miss.” — Luna sighed deeply again — “It hurts, Ray.” Luna embraced me tightly, pressing her head to my chest, her horn skillfully turned away from my neck.

I gulped nervously. “I actually… actually said what was on my mind, and Luna… She did the same…” I stroked her hair gently with my free hand in silence. The words were not needed. “We like each other… Even more than just like, it’s an intangible bond I’m still struggling to comprehend, but it’s not the lust, not the fiery passion, but something else.” As much as I wish to avoid an affair with the royal blood for my own good, I refuse to push her away. No, I just can’t do it. Though it isn’t looking like a genuine one… yet.

I breathed in, closing my eyes for a moment. “Luna?” She raised her look to meet mine, unwilling to let me go. “Time will heal everything. It should,” I said softly, my hand lightly sliding down her elegant neck. “Your sister will forget her fears, and everything will be fine once more.”

“I know, Ray. If I have anything aplenty, it’s time.” Her sad voice was slightly trembling. “Still, knowing it does not make things easier,” — a subtle smile finally crept on her face, — “but sharing it with you does.”

“Time…” I muttered, falling into a deep thought. My hands, though, never stopped gently caressing Luna. “Right, I haven’t thought about it much, but… how much time do I really have — left? Seems I’ve fallen into that thoughtful drunk state once more. An old wreck turned into a somewhat athletic, healthy man in a week… How much can it last? My guts and logic tell me: as long as the magic is present around. Am I… like Luna now?”

“Time.” Luna snorted. “It is my enemy. That millennium spent on the moon turned everything and everyone I knew to dust.” Her whisper was quiet, but the next phrase she said silently, only slightly moving her lips, but I could catch the words by their movements: “And it will take you away from me, eventually, too.” I could see small, glistening teardrops in the corners of her eyes. She suppressed them forcefully, but I still noticed.

“Don’t think about it too much, Luna.”

“Ah…” she said with a sigh, “You heard me…”

“Mmm…” I just nodded, unable to think of any appropriate words. “Say, what if time can’t take me away?” I asked this silly question just to see her reaction.

Luna raised her brows and smiled enchantingly. “Then…” — she giggled — “I would start preparations for the royal wedding the moment I would’ve returned to Canterlot, so my sister couldn’t beat me to it, and you would be forbidden to refuse!” Her chest was convulsing with occasional laughs.

“Uh… yeah…” I laughed awkwardly. “She is joking, right? She must be, yes, definitely. Luna is drunk and her mood swings like a pendulum right now.” I faked clearing my throat. “You got me with this one.” I rubbed the back of my head.

“And what if I’m not joking?” she asked, grinning with glee.

“Oh, Luna, please don’t make it any more awkward for me.”

“You started this ‘what if’ game yourself. Nobody pulled your tongue.” Luna chuckled. “Oh, yes, I almost forgot.” She rose and sat herself properly on the couch, then her horn flashed with magic light and a small black wooden casket with a carved lid floated to us from the shelf on the wall. The lid flew open and what I saw inside were my old papers and the broken phone I left in the ruins. “Is this yours? Did you forget these things in the ruins?”

“Rather, I discarded those. There would be no use for these things here, anyway.”

“Why? What were these things for?”

“These two,” — I picked up my passport and driver license — “are my ‘papers’, this one proves who I am and my citizenship, and this one proves my right to drive certain vehicles on the roads. Then, look here, Luna.” Luna raised her body to sit on the couch properly. I tapped the blank photo. “There should be the image of my face, and here” — I moved my finger — “should be my full name, date of birth and some other information. See? Yes, it’s completely blank now. Nothing! I’ve already mentioned I don’t remember my old name, but this goes far beyond the issue of me losing some memories. I also can’t remember those details of my identity, I don’t even remember my old face I used to see in the mirror, just roughly, as well as I can’t remember the exact faces of the people I knew, even my own family, but I’m glad the other memories were left intact, more or less. I was…” — I sighed — “erased from my old world, in a sense. That’s what I know and that’s why it’s useless for me to seek a way back. This mainly sums it up. It’s also the reason I left those items there, to think of it less and start a new life. You can have those if you want.”

“Erased? That is horrible… I’ll make sure you’ll feel at home in Equestria, Ray.” At this moment Luna had a very determined look. “I’ll… keep those things then, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure.” I shrugged.

“Do you regret losing your old name?”

“Nah, it didn’t bother me for long, and I’m already used to my new one.” I waved my hand.

“Was your new name always this short, or have you shortened it? I remember you saying it before, but I forgot.” Luna smiled sheepishly.

“Mmm… It’s Life Ray actually, but the first part sounds strange to me, while the second is like a shortened real name from my world, so I’m using it.” Of the several languages I knew, I chose English for my name. At least ‘Ray’ doesn’t sound weird to me.

“Interesting.” Luna made a thoughtful face. “Life Ray,” she drawled.

The moment she said it I felt a faint wave rush through my body. My power resonated inside me in a strange way. “What the? Falda’ar told me this particular strange name will make me stronger, and I didn’t get it that time, but this is just weird. Shit! I should refrain from telling my full name to people until I know what it is. Who knows what will happen if this thing occurs every time someone tells my name?” This power fluctuation also purged my groggy state partially, making my mind clearer. “Well shit, and I wanted to get wasted today…”

“Is something wrong?” Luna didn’t miss my disturbed state.

“Ah… No, nothing. Look, let’s keep it just ‘Ray’, alright?”

“Of course, it would be rude after I asked you to call me just Luna.” She snuggled up to me again. “And what about that black tablet made of strange material?”

“That is — was a device for voice communication, but it is no longer working. It is either broken or out of charge, which makes little difference, as it’s useless here.”

“Communication? Without magic? Your stories didn’t seem to mention you being some big shot. Are those available to every-one?” A surprise was written on Luna’s face.

“Indeed, but don’t think too much about it, it took the entire world longer than a century to come up with such things, and times longer to get to the starting point.”

“And you just leave such a thing to me?”

“Well, yes, I doubt it would be of much use to us, anyway. Might as well save it as an artifact. Too advanced even for me. There might be nobody in the world who knows in detail how every small part of it works and should be made, much less me alone, and even if I knew, we have no tools for it.”

Luna sighed, “I see, it’s not that different from advanced magic devices. You can’t just make one without the knowledge, proper tools and years of research, but let’s put those things aside for another time.” Luna smiled. “Would this gentlecolt be so kind as to feed his princess some grapes?”

“Oh, this ‘gentlecolt’ will do so with pleasure.” I said, smiling, taking a vine of grapes from the platter.

The time passed by without our notice and eventually Luna had to end our little night party for two. She needs to check the dreamland for nightmares and then will have to move the moon. As I was going to leave for the Nightowl, she raised herself on hind legs slightly, hugged me and placed a kiss on my cheek, smiling happily. Her large dark wings spread wide behind her back in a magnificent sight.

“Thank you for keeping me good company tonight. Now I have the strength to take on all the hassle which is going to start soon.”

“No need for thanks. It was a pleasure, and we are… friends, right?”

“Right, very… close friends, I would say. I will meet you in your dreams when I have time. Take care, Ray.”

“Good bye, Luna. See you another day.”

I closed the door behind me and navigated through the hallway to the exit. My groggy state returned since I asked Luna for a few more chalices, surprising her with my tenacity towards her wine. This drink has divine taste, and it does not leave any side effects, at least for me. After walking down the stairs, I appeared in the office room through which I entered. The room was almost unlit at this late hour, but it posed no trouble for two pairs of batpony guards standing by the stairs and the entrance door. They stood in silence as I walked and exited the building. I heard somebody exit the door and followed me. Turning around, I saw one unpleasant batpony behind me. Nobody else was around. The pony just followed me, drilling my back with a death stare. He followed me till I walked out of the Silver Wheel, then the door behind me slammed with force and I heard the lock clink a few times. I snorted at this silly display of animosity, but the guard still didn’t infringe on his code, so I didn’t mind much.

I strolled without hurry down the dark deserted streets. It was still a few hours before sunrise, but despite it being so late in the night, the town was still noisy in some parts, particularly saloons and other establishments like that, though they were rare. Groups of jolly mercenaries and other idlers were walking from one such place to another in unsteady steps. “Nightowl House must be like that right now.”

While passing by the doors of one such place, I heard some shout and rumble, then somebody flew out, slamming through the doors with their body. After making a salto in the air I saw white wings spread out as a griffon tried to land on their legs, but failed, stumbling in my direction. I caught the strange lionbird with my hand before they could land headfirst in the ground.

“Make sure we never see you again in our place, useless old vulture,” a hoarse voice shouted through the doors of the saloon, accompanied by booming laughter of others.

I took a closer look at the griffon while he huffed, shaking his entire body to straighten his ruffled feathers and fur before looking up at me. It was obvious the griffon was already far from his prime, several large scars adorned his face.

“Thanks, lad. Bastards! I’m just a lil’ broke and they alr’dy throw me out like some trash. I’ll show ‘em!” His speech was dunken. He clenched his claw and stood on his hind legs, moving his face unnervingly close to mine. Alcoholic fumes from his breath spread an unpleasant smell. “A for’gner? Are you a merchant and hirin’, mayhaps?” My hand pushed the griffon away, but he persisted, pushing his cheek against my hand. “Just a measly thousand a month and my claws are workin’ fer ye day and night. I might be old, but I’ve spilt my share of blood.” He straightened himself to look more imposing, but failed.

“Sorry, but I’m in no need of such service, not even mentioning I, too, don’t have a thousand on my hands.”

The griffon sighed in dejection. “I r’ly want to avoid the crappier side of this b’siness, but my options are so few n’wadays.”

I raised my brow. “What side are you talking about?”

The griffon scratched his beak with a claw, his eyes trying hard to focus on my face. “I’m not sure, lad, but there are some r’mors going ‘round that The Cartel is hiring whateva’ mercs they c’n find for a han’some pay. Some of our folk say the guys who went there have gone out of town, and who knows where they are now?” The griffon shrugged. “I’m sure as fuck they use some crappy mind magic to keep ev’ryone invo-vled silent, and I… I’m not touchin’ this shite unless I’m abs-absoll-lutely desp’rate.” The griffon stammered and waved his wing widely in a rejecting gesture, as his tongue refused to do its work properly. “Though I’m not far from it.” The mighty hiccup then shook his entire body.

“Stay out of this, old bird. This may cost you more than you’ll get.”

“Yah.” The griffon sighed yet another time.

“What is that Cartel you speak of?”

"First clue's free, lad, second one will cost ye, but ye look like the kinda lad who can find steady work, e’en if ye don’t have a thousand. Let's say, twenty bits, aye?" The griffon winked.

I scratched my head and decided against spending money on dubious information I have little use for. Shadow Guard most likely know much more than this old merc.

“Don’t think I really need that, old bird.”

“A pity. What about ten? Come on, just ten bits… No? Well, that was worth a try. Imma go sleep it off, then. Yah, keep yer trap shut about it, lest ye find trouble on yer sorry arse.” He cackled. “Thanks ‘gain, lad, bye.” He didn’t wait for my answer, turned around and walked away with an unsteady gait. Flying was obviously out of the question.

Looking at his reeling figure as I scratched the back of my head, I turned around and continued on my way. Wandering down the road I couldn't help but to think about the underlying currents of this town. My thoughts were broken however as what I assumed to be a teenage colt ran past, probably off his curfew or something. Bringing myself out of my internal ramblings, I noticed that it wouldn't take that much time for me to get back, even as I walked slowly. My thoughts then turned from the underworld active in this town back to Luna.

My attempt at trying to sort out my relationship with her had been an utter failure. Perhaps time will tell where our paths may lead us. On one hand, she is ruling this country and has such an elevated position, far above me in station. On the other hand, she is a nice and kind girl, misunderstood and misjudged by many, chained to that high position. There is, however, one more side to a relationship with her, one that I couldn’t help but to notice. She could become a powerful ally in the future. Exploitative, I know, and hell, I wouldn’t even know how to use her influence, but I don’t know where and how I should start my ‘work’ here, either. “Ah, it’s too complicated, dammit!” I grumbled under my breath, turning the already familiar corner leading to the Nightowl as I blocked any further thoughts about Luna from my head.

When I came close to the building, as I walked to the entrance, I heard the clamor and loud shouts of some argument. Something was happening inside. “Well, that’s none of my business. Let the drunkards shout and beat each other, then get fined for property destruction.” I thought as I pulled open the massive door. However, the scene inside drew my attention.

An absolute giant of a minotaur was standing in the center of the dining hall, roaring at the top of his lungs. He was even taller than me, and approximately three times wider as well. Other visitors left the hall, leaving their meals and drinks on the tables, and were standing at a fair distance from the raging bull. Before him stood a pair of ponies, one stallion in a uniform with a badge, perhaps a member of a local law enforcement. The other one was no other than that nice beige maid pegasus who served us earlier this evening.

“I don’t give a damn about your stupid badge, pony! Nobody tells Mountain what to do, sheriff or not, and you’re just a nobody! If you wanna make me leave, let’s see how you gonna do it. C’mon, come at me.” He crossed his barrel-like arms before his chest and beckoned with his finger. The silent pause got too long. “What? You don’t dare? Then fuck off before I smack you into mush!”

The minotaur moved his body towards him, making the pony backpedal at a quick pace and forcing him to join other visitors. Minotaur just laughed in glee and turned around to the shocked maid who had to deal with the brute alone.

“So, where were we, you little slut?” Minotaur had a nasty grin on his muzzle.

The maid was frightened out of her wits. “S-sir, y-you were h-here for f-four hours already. Y-you should pay the c-current bill before I serve you m-more food and drinks.” She stammered, but still refused to do as the brute wanted her to.

“What?” the minotaur roared in rage. “You little whorse! Do as Mountain says if you don’t want to get hurt, now! And for your stubbornness you will entertain me for the rest of the night, you know what I mean.” Minotaur boomed in laughter again. “On the other thought, fuck the booze. I’ll just take you with me instead, lest you decide to run away.” His hand reached for the maid. Her body seemed tiny in comparison. An expression of terror appeared on her face as she clumped to the floor, covering her head with her hooves. The pegasus mare was too paralysed with fear to try to run or fly away.

My foot was already making a step towards the stairs, but time had seemingly slowed down for me at the moment I saw the minotaur try to grab the pony. At first, I was going to ignore this matter and proceed to my room, by the old habit of avoiding trouble which most people in our modern society have. But… There are too many ‘buts’ appearing in my life lately. I was unwilling to just let this happen and leave this poor mare to be ravaged by the drunken brute. Anger at his misconduct started to churn inside me. My foot changed its course to step towards the minotaur.

“I’d be careful where I point those horns, old boy, ya might just get them shoved up your arse,” I said as casually as I possibly could, stepping closer. I’ll probably regret this decision, but I’d hate myself for not making it.

Minotaur ceased his movements, then his hulking figure slowly turned around, his eyes glaring at me with undisguised malice, examining my appearance.

“The fuck are you, skinny freak? You best the fuck not just have said what I think you did, or I’m gonna break those toothpicks you call arms.”

With his sight locked on me, the maid that now stood behind him made a swift escape towards the back, disappearing before the minotaur could notice.

Giving a crooked grin as I stopped walking, I put my hand upon the nearest stool. “Oh, scary words coming from a bloated cow like yourself.” I think I could see a vein pop out at that. "Well, since you’re so curious, I’ll tell you who I am. The name is Ray, hunter of beasts, blessed by nature itself." The minotaur seemingly blinked at that as I finished off with a comedic little bow. I was in the mood for theatrics tonight, though I was already purging the alcohol from my bloodstream, rather regrettably, but it had to be done. This bastard was going to pay for ruining my mood.

“You’re no hunter. You’ve got no claws, no muscle, no wings. All you’ve got is that little chair there. You really think it’ll do you any good? You’re another fool, about to be crushed beneath the mountain.” He mocked, giving my hand a glance.

“Oh, this little thing?” I asked in faux confusion as I lifted it up for but a second. “No, this is just here in case I’ll need to waft out your breath, what with all that alcohol mixing together with that grass you sheep-fuckers like to munch.” If he wasn’t pissed before, he sure was now, as he let out a snort and made his hooves grind against the wooden floor.

“So I’m a hunter, yes. And you are prey, with a loud mouth and thick skull, who's better at fighting little fillies than real men. Now I’d suggest you take that useless third horn between your legs and march on out of here before I turn it into a pulp.” Pointing towards the door in a vain hope he’d go, he just stood there menacingly. Though I doubt he understood the part about ‘men’.

“You’re dead meat.” And with that, he snorted loudly, little clouds coming from his nostrils, and charged.

Swiftly throwing the stool in my hands at him, he only brushed it aside as if it had no weight whatsoever, not even flinching. The minotaur’s momentum was tremendous, although the same momentum prevented him from maneuvering fast enough. He rushed past me, speeding through the empty space in the hall as I sidestepped to the left. The nearby onlookers ran away in panic as the brute got too close, but this situation favored me. With more free space around, it will be easier for me to maneuver and dodge.

Because of the abruptness of the minotaur’s attack, I’ve been a bit late utilizing my ‘life essence’, and now it worked hastily to pump up my body, as I was thinking about my means of attack. I didn’t want to bring sheer destruction to the Nightowl, so my options were few, and I had to keep the minotaur around the hall. If the fight moves to the bar, all those tables, stools and benches will get me hindered, and the bar itself will be utterly devastated, as this idiot would just trample through all of the furnishings.

The minotaur turned around as I missed my first opportunity to attack, judging my situation. To my surprise, he learned nothing from his first attempt and charged again, trying to ram or grab me. As he rushed by, I placed a solid punch to his side and it felt like I had just punched a heavy sandbag, having done no noticeable harm to the minotaur.

“Stop running and jumping around like an insect!” the minotaur boomed, turning around and slowly walking towards me, balming up his fists till veins were showing, even through his fur. Lumbering strikes then began flying down on me, each one looking like it'd be able to crush a log if it connected. Although that seemed unlikely, as I easily veered out of the range of his fists, this, however, prevented me from countering, as I kept my distance. His arms were longer than I first thought, greatly limiting my movements, and I’d have to go in real close for a hit. Thinking that exhausting the lumbering beast would work, I kept at it, but he didn’t show any signs of fatigue as the minutes ticked by. Seeing this, I had to change my tactics.

I got already used to his combat pace and after the next delay between his heavy sweeping blows I closed in, landing a heavy hook somewhere to the side of his cow muzzle, near the nose, continuing with several hits under his ribs as he reeled back, raising his arms, but those series of hits had close to zero effect and I had to retreat with haste, almost getting caught by his hands. Minotaur grunted and touched his nose, a trickle of blood could be seen coming out of it.

“Finally, you’ve shown some metal. Maybe you’re not just all talk. Still, you are not getting out of here until I break all your limbs! The games are over.” Minotaur roared as if gone crazy, veins popped in his eyes and he stared at me, bloodshot. He bulleted towards me unexpectedly fast, much faster than I thought was possible.

“The fuck?” Was all I thought, desperately trying to jump back from his overhead punch. His fists now flew at insane speeds. “What’s wrong with this speed?” While I was still moving backward in the air, the second straight hit still landed squarely on my chest. “I could see it, but I’m too slow, damn it!” My movement reduced its power, but the momentum was still so high I continued to fly backwards until I hit the wall, blowing air out of my lungs, then I slumped down, my back against the wall. I could feel something warm and wet trickling down the back of my head, and I didn’t need to check what it was.

A pang of pain numbed my consciousness. I certainly sustained some nasty injury, maybe a broken rib. The head was fine, though, just a dissection. Elated by his success, the minotaur boomed in laughter, showing off before the crowd by making some stupid poses.

“Now you’re done!” He said as he had finally turned to me, pointing his thick finger at me and slowly stepping up. “Because of you, little shit, I’ll have to catch that whorse again.”

I was straining my body while getting up, numbing the pain with more and more ‘life essence’ pumped into my system. I felt a strange excitement, an unusual, elating thrill. The threat before me was so pleasantly inviting me to fight, to overcome, to dominate. It made me feel so — alive! I heard a muffled laughter, realizing it was my own a moment later as it went to a thunderous crescendo. I relished this feeling. “Am I going crazy again? Who fucking cares!” I looked at the incoming bull.

“What? Have you gone insane from fear, laughing while coughing out blood?” The minotaur was quite smug with himself.

I eyed the minotaur like a boa might eye its prey in eager anticipation, spitting out the leftovers of blood from my mouth which I coughed up earlier.

“Stop looking at me with those creepy eyes of yours, freak!” The minotaur flinched unexpectedly.

“Scared?” I produced a choked cackle. A crooked grin didn’t leave my face. “This injury is nothing. It is time to hunt a big game!” My sight took on a light red tint, and everything around seemed to slow down. “I can still think, maybe not too clearly, but I can. This is not blind berserking. This is a way my anger is meant to be used, and now, I will bring him down.” This thought rushed through my mind in an instant, as I bolted towards the minotaur with much greater speed and power than before with a flaming passion to beat the hell out of him. He tried hitting me with his fists again, but I slid under his strikes and kicked powerfully with my whole momentum on his legs. Those were much weaker and smaller than his overall stature and must be a weak point. The minotaur stumbled powerlessly and fell face-first.

My eyes flashed green as I scanned his body for vulnerabilities. The surrounding crowd gasped in fright at this display. My ominous smile still didn’t leave my face. Punches and kicks rained down on the still lying minotaur’s body relentlessly and without mercy. The minotaur wailed and roared in pain. He tried to shake me off, but then just charged forward, escaping my assault, slamming into a wooden wall in front. His horns made two holes in the wall, trapping him there for a while. While he was still stuck, I landed a few more painful hits. The minotaur pulled his horns out and went completely crazy, rushing and crushing everything around the place in a maddened rage. Frightened screams spread through the hall as people ran away.

“Fuck! If I don’t stop him, he will raze the whole inn!” Some clarity had returned to my head as my rage subsided. My excitement changed for a mild satisfaction from beating up the crazy bull. Then an idea popped into my mind. “That might work, but I’ll need to restrain him first.”

I started my plan, closing in on the minotaur, who just finished crushing and smashing one of the nearby tables. While he was distracted, I didn’t give him any time to react, kicking him at the back of his knees. His legs folded, bringing him to his knees. He flailed his arms erratically, trying to get me. I swiftly followed with a flying kick to the back of his head, making him fall forward. It was almost impossible to knock him out with that thick skull of his, but it was enough to stun him for a second.

“Time to sleep, motherfucker!” I shouted as my palm landed on the back of his head with a loud clap, gripping his head and pressing it to the ground. Time was running out quickly. I tried to focus and channel my ‘life essence’ inside that thick skull of his, holding it under control. This is usually hard to pull off, but the less conscious the target is, the less resistance it will have, and the minotaur is currently a total wreck in this regard. A simple anesthetic method worked wonders on the minotaur, as his hulking form went limp and gradually stopped moving, then a mighty snore rolled through the hall.

I took a look around, surrounding people stared at the scene with shock in their eyes. “Good, Nobody was killed or seriously injured, and the destruction is minimal.” I thought as I breathed deeply, calming down. The hall was completely silent, despite quite a number of people present, interrupted only by muffled whispers. Some of them flinched when my gaze landed on them, but others had admiring eyes and made approving gestures.

“Hey guys, why are you just standing here? Is there any law enforcement in this town? This bastard won’t be lying still for too long, you know.”

Finally, I saw that one pony, who didn’t do his job as he should have, separated from the crowd and came to me.

“Sorry, sir, the reinforcements should arrive soon, but I guess there won’t be much work for them left.” The pony smiled wryly at me. “Would you help me tie him up?” he asked, pulling a bundle of rope from his saddlebag.

“Fine,” — I nodded, — “we better do it quickly.”

While we were busy tying up the minotaur, a bunch of ponies in uniform stormed into the hall from the outside.

“Freeze y’all! What’s goin’ on here?” We heard a loud voice. A well-built earth pony with mustaches, stetson hat and a silver badge on his uniform stood at the entrance, surrounded by a bunch of similarly dressed ponies, with two unicorns on his sides with their horns glowing. Then his gaze landed on us, while we were finishing tying up the minotaur.

“Deputy, report!”

“Yes, sheriff Silverstar!” The pony saluted his boss and trotted to make a report to him.

I could not hear what they were talking about, but I just waited for them to finish when I saw a movement from the corner of my eyes. Turning my head, I saw a beige pegasi maid flying at me at full speed from the kitchen. In a split second, she had landed on my chest, spreading her hooves, almost toppling me down. She clung to me, pattering the words of thanks incoherently. I supported her with one hand, keeping her from falling down as my other hand, out of my new habit, petted her head and scratched her ears.

“Calm down, sweetie. This brute is going to jail and won’t bother you anymore.”

Her muttering slowly turned to quiet sobs. I wanted to put her down, but she clung to me even harder instead, burying her head in my chest and I could feel my shirt being slightly soaked in her tears, so I just continued doing my best to comfort her. My hands have a calming effect on ponies, it would seem. She twigged, getting more comfortable in my arms. Her wings had spread out and softly embraced me from two sides. I noted to myself that pegasi, along with batponies, seems to be more fluffy than others. I looked around once more, expecting some reaction from the crowd around, but, unexpectedly, the onlookers were more interested in the tied up minotaur. Some of them were occasionally throwing glances at us, but nobody seemed to mind the pegasi mare in my arms, nor that I was petting her, in the least, like it was par for the course for them.

Eventually, one of the ponies walked up to me.

“Good job, young’un. You have ma’h respect. This girl didn’t deserve to go through it. If only Ah’ was younger… maybe Ah’ could help you,” he said with a sigh. His voice was raspy. This stallion was of respectable age. “Are you fine? You got a nasty hit. Ah’ swear Ah’ could hear your bones cracking! Do you want me to call a doctor?”

“Thanks, grampa,” — I thought he wouldn’t mind me calling him as such, — “but I should be fine. Doctor is not needed.” Whatever damage I had sustained should be healed by the sunrise, more or less, though the blood on the back of my head must look scary.

“If you say so. Well, Ah’ will no longer spoil your moment, young’uns!” he smiled and went away.

My eyes looked down at the pegasi. Her big green eyes were staring back at me, and she was no longer sobbing. Instead, a coy smile was plastered on her face. “Holy crap, I was not planning on expanding my ‘herd’ or something like that.”

“Are you alright now?” I asked. She nodded, and I put her down carefully. She was obviously unwilling to get off my arms.

“Thank you, sir…” She looked at me quizzically.

“Ray, just Ray, and you have thanked me so many times already. This is no longer necessary.”

“I’m Sugar Spice. Pleasure to get acquainted with you.”

“Sir, we need you to go with us.” A voice interrupted our conversation before I could say anything more. “Ah’m sheriff Silverstar. While you helped to arrest the perpetrator, you still broke the law, which forbids taking part in fights. Your assistance and cooperation will be put into account. Please don’t make it any more difficult for us and yourself and come willingly.” The sheriff had that peculiar drawling accent many local ponies of this town had.

I sighed before answering. “Alright, but give me half a minute to say a word to the owner of this place.” I told the sheriff, noticing a certain pony, who was busy examining the holes in the wall left by the horns.

“You have a minute. Doncha try to run away.”

I asked the ‘boss’ to relay my whereabouts to Lily and Sapphira when they got up.

“Also, you no longer owe me anything for the hole in the ceiling. This moron would have destroyed my entire bar if not for you. What? Do you think I didn’t know?” He asked with a satisfied smile and chuckled.

“Well, thanks, boss.” I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. I still didn’t know his name.

“Time’s up, let’s go!” the sheriff shouted to me.

“Later.” I bid my farewell and went after the sheriff.

“This is unfair! I’m going with you! Boss, you don’t mind, right?” Sugar Spice was very agitated at this turn of events. Seems she wants to plead and testify for me.

“Ah, just go. You would go even if I refused to let you, anyway.” The boss waved his hoof, letting her off work for the rest of the night. “As if Shadow Guard would let them hold their people,” he muttered under his breath, going past me, just loud enough for me to hear it, and snorted, insidiously grinning. “This guy is good, really good,” he said to himself.

“Hey, sheriff, look at his head, are you insane? He needs a doctor!” Sugar Spice was pestering the sheriff to let me go, but he just shrugged her off.

“He ain’t lookin’ like he’s gonna collapse right here. We’ll check him at the station.”

Sugar snorted loudly in displeasure.

“I won’t let you off if you don’t!”

“Sure, sure. Just doin’ mah’ job, you know,” the sheriff replied impassively. “Come on guys, will you be able to carry that bull?” He asked the two unicorns he brought with him, pointing his hoof at the snoring minotaur.

“We can, I guess.” Working as a pair, they lifted the heavy body of the minotaur in the air. “But not for long, we better hurry!” he added in a strained voice, his horn pulsating with magic on maximum power output.

“Deputies, move out!” Sheriff gave his command and led his subordinates out. I had to follow him as he kept an eye on me. I took a hint from the boss and didn’t bother much with this situation. The only upsetting thing is that I won’t get any sleep tonight and make the girls worry about me.

Sugar Spice was nowhere to be seen, until she literally dropped on me from above, landing on my shoulders. She was not particularly light, but I wasn’t weak either to mind it. In her hooves she held a first aid kit, keeping the balance of her body with her wings.

“If the mean sheriff does not want to patch you up, then I’ll do it myself! Try not to move too much.” She said as she tore off a piece of cotton and wetted it with some liquid. Must be some antiseptic.

“Ah’ ain’t mean!” Sheriff retorted grumpily.

“You are!” Sugar loudly snorted and turned her head away from him theatrically.

Her fluffy coat lightly tickled my head and neck. Also, she smells nice, with a slightest trace of sweet cinnamon. I can say the same about Lily and Sapphira, they both have their unique pleasant fragrance, but I’m not sure if it’s natural, or it is my new perception quirk.

“Here you go, I’ll wipe a-a-all this blood off you. Oh, strange, where is the wound?” She asked as she carefully tried to treat my injured head.

“Must have healed already, sweety. I have a little bit of healing magic.” I chuckled.

“Great! But anyway, it’s no good to walk around stained in blood,” she said as she wiped the rest of the blood from my head and put the first aid kit away in her bag. “Some of your skin is still reddish.” She touched my head softly, stroking it. “Why is your mane so short?”

The nonchalance of this pegasus baffled me. She literally rides me and asks questions like we knew each other for ages.

“Just an accident. I lost it. It’ll grow back in a while.”

“Oh, that’s a relief. It’s no good for such a great stallion to go around without a mane!”

I laughed. “Are you hitting on me, sweety?” This nickname I made for her was quite fitting her real name.

She raised her body with her wings and hung herself forward, her head appearing before my face upside-down, her long platinum hair with a bright reddish lock hanging down.

“Perhaps I am?” She showed me a grinning smile.

“Oh, come on, I’m going to the police station to be arrested or something. It’s a bad time for such jokes. By the way, for how long are you going to ride me?”

She plopped back on my shoulders, holding my head with her hooves. “Hmph! And what if I’m not joking…” she grumbled. “Am I too heavy for you?”

“Nope. We’re just looking really weird and the entire street gawks at us.” I said, getting a hold of her dangling hind legs so she wouldn’t fall. Well, I don’t mind giving her a ride. At least she seems to be thoroughly distracted from what happened to her recently.

“So what? They are just envious! Moreover, it’s early sunrise. There is almost nopony around except for the deputies and the sheriff!” She laughed, as if they didn’t count, and would not get off me anytime soon. I still can’t understand those ponies completely. Their boundaries between friendship and something more intimate are too vague for me. I mainly mean Luna and this flying piece of raw enthusiasm on my shoulders right now. At least I don’t need to crack my head over my two fanged ladies anymore.

Silverstar led me somewhere downtown. We crossed what seemed to be a central square with a city hall nearby, turning to one of the few paved main roads. Throughout our trip, I was listening to a non-stop chatter coming from above me, but Sugar’s chatter kept my mind calm and distracted from my current problem. Among the flood of random information, she told me a lot of things about the places along the way, including some useful and not so useful shops, which I tried to remember.

Eventually, we reached a sheriff's station. The minotaur was carried away to somewhere deeper inside the building, and I was left alone in some small office with a humble interior. They didn’t even lock the door when they left me. Holy naivety! Or maybe they haven’t intended to put any charges on me at all. Around half an hour later, Silverstar had returned.

“Holy Celestia, he sleeps like a log. Whatcha done with him?” He said with a sigh, sitting down in his chair.

“Almost nothing. He should have woken up long ago, but this must be the effect of all the booze that idiot had drunk tonight.”

“Guessed as much,” — Silverstar smiled weakly, — “but he has quite a lot of ugly bruises all over his body.”

“But I don’t remember my hits having any notable effect on him, though.”

“It is not surprisin’, he is a mino, after all. When they rage, they ain’t feel no pain, almost, and their bodies become mighty powerful, for a time. We, earth ponies, can’t e’en hope to compare, but we also don’t lose our marbles in rage, nor are we that irritable. Well, we’ll deal with him when he wakes up. We have enough witnesses to put him in jail for a while, then deport and forbid him entry to Equestria.” He scratched his chin with a hoof. “As for you…” He sighed again. “Personally, Ah’ strongly approve of whatcha did, but the law is still a law, so, after piling in every positive factor, Ah’ mind to go with just a warning for you, but if Ah’ catch you fightin’ again, you’ll have to have an unpaid vacation in one of the cells for a while, or do some obligatory work for the town. Is this understood?”

I nodded to him. “Sure. Thanks.” Seems the Shadow Guard won’t be needed here to get me out.

“Not very talkative, ain’t you?” He grinned. “Well, that’s fine. You are free to go now after signin’ this.” He put a paper and a writing feather on the table. “Oh yes, what species are you?”

“I’m a human.”

“Hyu-man,” he repeated after me, taking the feather again and writing something on the paper.

Skimming over, I found nothing suspicious, and my name was just stated as ‘Ray, hyuman’, so I signed it and bid the sheriff farewell. Walking out to the lobby, I was once again greeted by the pegasus’ aerial charge.

“Ray!” She bumped into my chest again. “Yay! They let you free!” She let me off and just floated in the air before me. “I told them everything. You were not at fault,” she said, actively gesturing with her hooves.

Then she suddenly hugged my neck and nuzzled my cheek. I patted her mane lightly, then scratched behind her ears, getting some cute satisfied noises from her.

“Let’s go back, Sugar. I’m already tired and still want to sleep for at least a few hours.”

“Okie, but why not ‘sweety’? It’s a nice nickname. I rather liked that.” She started flying before me through the hall towards the exit.

I chuckled. “Alright, ‘sweety’ it is, then.”

The sun was already halfway above the horizon when we exited the sheriff’s station. It was early morning, and there were still not so many people on the streets. I’ve started walking, remembering the road we took to get here. Sugar Spice hovered steadily by my side, flapping her wings leisurely. I marveled at their ability to do so once more. That’s pure magic. She then moved her head closer to my ear.

“Say Ray, for how long have you been in Shadow Guard?” Sugar whispered.

I raised my brows, turning to her. “Are you…” I said silently, but she interrupted me.

“Yes, I’m… a junior employee, civilian branch. The whole Nightowl staff is. Employing common people is unreliable. Well, we’re not much different from regular workers anyway, somepony have to keep things running. Boss has told us about the three of you, so we don’t cause a misunderstanding later.”

“Well… makes sense. I’m not in the Guard, but…” — I thought about Luna, — “I have some solid connections to it, I’d say. Our thestral is the only official member, if you need to know.” Yes, it is certainly good to have the backing of this caliber, but I still don’t want to owe too much favors when possible.

“Oh, don’t be so modest, you did a job which would require an armed squad to do, and you did it barehoof and with so little destruction at that. You must be some big shot,” she whispered in a conspiratorial tone.

“Nope, I’m not,” I said, booping her nose. She slanted her eyes, looking at my finger and giggled.

“It’s alright if you don’t want to tell me.” She stopped whispering and once again landed on my shoulders. “This minotaur was the biggest one I have ever seen!”

“I haven’t seen many, but that one was indeed obscenely huge.” I once again held her legs. “Hey, sweety, do you like to ride on my shoulders this much?”

“Yep!”

“And you are not going to get down?”

“Yep, not going to!”

“Alright, stay there if you want. By the way, why is the Guard employing civilians, aren't they afraid of exposing themselves and information leaking out?”

Sugar laughed briefly. “Seems you’re really not from the guard. You don’t have to worry about it, we all have a special spell put on us as a safety measure. I can’t tell you more, ask your thestral if you want to know.”

At this moment, something dropped from the sky before us, making me flinch. A moment later, I realized it was Lily and Sapphira hovering in the air before us.

“Ray!” Sapphira shouted as she made a leap to my chest, forcing me to take several steps back from the impact. I caught her in my arms, then she hugged me tightly with her hooves, pressing herself to me.

“Girls? I’m fine, I’m fine! Nothing bad happened.”

Lily was still hovering before me, eyeing the pegasus on my shoulders with widened eyes. She held her cheeks as she muttered: “I could actually do it like that… Oh, I’ve missed so much!”

I had a bad premonition about it. Sugar Spice tactfully left my shoulders, landing on the ground beside me.

“Ray! I’m glad they let you go. I was already going to squash this cheeky sheriff under my hoof!” She showed how she would do it in gestures, puffing up her fluffy chest.

Lily was much more reserved in public than she was in private and refrained from hugs this time. She then looked at Sugar Spice, squinting her eyes. “Why was she riding on your back?”

“Um-m-m…” I tried to think of some explanation.

“He just gave me a friendly ride, right? Ray is strong, and it’s nice,” Sugar Spice said in a cheery voice.

“Oh, come on, girls, you know what happened, she needs some company and distraction right now, and if riding on my shoulders makes her happy, then it’s fine,” I said, adding in a low voice, “Unlike us, who had gone through some real shit, she is a regular civilian, getting over it can be much harder for her.”

“You are too kind, Ray,” said Lily, a wry smile on her face.

Sapphira finally let go of me and landed on the ground, chuckling while looking at Sugar Spice. “I think I should thank you for trying to help Ray.”

“No need for thanks. He saved me from that monster, and… I just had to help him.”

“And she might have something completely different in mind.” Sapphira added in a low voice, so only I could hear, playing with her brows. We spent a little time exchanging facial expressions with Sapphira. We knew each other well enough already to understand the overall meaning, and it seems the jokes this boisterous pegasus made before might not be complete jokes, but Sapphira was not sure about it all. I sighed.

“Let’s go back already. I need some sleep.” I resumed walking, followed by the rest. “This issue is better left at that.”

The attention of the beige pegasus had swapped to Lily and Sapphira, and now she was busy retelling them the whole story, giving me a breather and an opportunity to ease my sleepy mind. The long day and the fight had exhausted me and I didn’t want to use any ‘doping’. It would be better to have some rest now.

It seems Sugar didn’t run away when the fight broke out and was watching from the kitchen. She is trying to look as if nothing happened, but I met her today before the incident and can see the difference. I’m not blind — Sugar is really stressed right now, flinching to abrupt loud noises around, and her unnaturally chatty behavior only proves me right. Her being so clingy is not a matter of her liking me or not. This is all about her feeling unsafe and anxious. For now, I’m the one giving her the feeling of safety, and I’m glad I can help her. But… Why do I even care? I don’t know. I just care, and it feels right. The same feeling compelled me to intervene and start a fight. People change, and I do, too. There is no need to fret over it. My thoughts were interrupted by the quiet voice close to my ear.

“Ray, are you upset with something?” Sugar once again was flying by my side.

I shook my head to get out of my detached, thoughtful state. “Ah, no, sweetie, I’m just tired and was thinking about some things. Tell me, are you feeling alright?” I asked in a low, calm voice.

“I-I, y-yes, I’m fine.” She stammered a bit.

“No, sweety, you aren’t.” I gave her a wry smile.

“Is that — this obvious?” Her cheery eyes drooped a little.

“Not for everyone, it seems, but I can see it. Where do you live? I can walk you home, if you want.”

“I live in a room for staff on the first floor…”

“Well, that makes things easier. We live in room four hundred and seven, and will be staying there for quite a time. You can come any time if you want or need help, but now you need some rest.” I yawned, covering my mouth with a hand. “And so do I. You were working through the entire night, after all.”

“I’m not sure if I can fall asleep now, alone in my room… but I’ll be fine. Nothing bad happened, thanks to you, I’m just — still nervous, that’s all.”

The girls behind me were talking quietly between themselves before appearing by our side.

“Um, Ray…” Sapphira started. “It’s a bit late, but maybe you will introduce our new friend to us?”

I made a hollow chuckle, scratching my head. “Yes, so dumb of me. Maybe I’m just too tired. This is Sugar Spice. You have already met her at the inn.” I waved my hand at the pegasus floating beside me. “She is also your civilian colleague,” I said to Lily in a low voice. “And these are Lily and Sapphira. You already know who Lily is, and Sapphira is a free changeling, so you should not have any concerns about her. And yes, we are… a herd.”

I looked at the girls exchanging hoofshakes with genuine smiles on their faces.

“Sorry, we didn’t think of your situation from the side Ray just mentioned,” Lily said with a somewhat guilty look.

“Yes, sometimes he is so dense in such things, but this time he surprised even me,” Sapphira remarked thoughtfully.

“Thanks for the compliment, honey,” I responded with a chuckle.

“Always welcome!” She said in a light, joyful voice. “So, Sugar,” — she turned to the pegasus — “do you want to stay with us for a while? I’m sure our company will fix you up in no time.”

“You two… don’t mind me? I won’t bother you?” Sugar’s eyes shifted between Lily and Sapphira.

Sapphira laughed. “Just look at her, Lily. She doesn’t mind Ray and this scary changeling, too!” She patted her chest with a hoof. “And now she thinks we would mind her.” She turned to Sugar. “You are also Lily’s colleague, who we will live with as neighbors for some time.” Sapphira smiled at Sugar Spice.

“Thanks, girls, I’ll gladly stay with you all for a while…”

She couldn’t finish her speech because I caught her in flight and sat her back on my shoulders. She was almost weightless while flapping her wings lazily.

“Yay!” The pegasus quickly reacted to it, raising her hooves high in the air with a cheer. Her weight returned as she folded her wings by her sides.

Lily took into the air, pointing at Sugar with her hoof. “Next time I’m taking that place! E-even if it’s in public.”

“Here in Equestria, ponies ride you,” I mumbled with a chuckle. I’m getting used to the sheer openness of some ponies. Sugar, the guys from the railroad, Lily, though she is shy to show it in public; and even Sapphira is like that. I’m not even mentioning Luna, but I’m saying ‘some ponies’ for a reason. The sole fact of the existence of the underworld and Shadow Guard is enough proof that nothing and nobody should be taken here at face value, except for the people I know. Those people who open their soul to me, I will hold dear. I wish that I, too, someday, will be completely open with them. Though my human nature does not allow me to do it this easily, and even Sapphi does not know everything about me, but I still think it’s better this way, for now.

We talked a lot on the way back. It was a random chatter mostly, and we were back to Nightowl in about a quarter hour later. Some ponies in the main hall greeted me, mainly the staff, waving their hooves, so I waved back at them, getting their smiles in return. Seems I’m a bit of a celebrity around here now.

“I’ll bring us something to eat from the kitchen. Go without me. You saved the bar, so the boss won’t make a fuss over some food,” said Sugar, flying leisurely across the hall into the kitchen entrance.

“Alright, Sugar,” said Sapphira and we proceeded to our room.

“I don’t know about you, but after having a snack, I’m gonna just drop on the bed and sleep like a log for a few hours,” I said, opening up the door to our room, letting girls in.

“Perhaps we’ll have a nap too and then go check some shops in the town,” said Lily. “I also need to restock my combat supplies at the base and revise my whole setup. I’ve learned quite a lesson from our fight with manticores. Sometimes I would need something more — lethal.”

“Speaking of your equipment, did you notice that Sapphi’s armor doesn’t even have a single scratch from all that claws, and I’ve seen that damn manticore tried to tear into her sides.”

“That… Yes, I think that’s the case. I paid little attention at that time, but now when you mention it… What is it made from? I’ve never seen such a sturdy, but quite elastic material. It’s scaly, but that’s definitely not dragon scales, nor the sea serpent’s. Those are too hard and stiff.”

“We don’t know either, Lily,” said Sapphira. “What can possibly survive a thousand years and still not turn to dust?”

“Is it that ancient? That’s quite wondrous.”

“Yes, it should be at least that old,” said Sapphira.

“Well,” — I smiled at Lily — “what I wanted to say: we have two more sets in our bags, and those should fit you nicely. They are designed for flying ponies. I insist you take one to replace the armor you currently use.”

“But… It should be worth a fortune. To give it to me just like that is…”

“It doesn’t matter.” I laughed. “I can find more bits elsewhere, but where would I find another Lily?” Her cheeks got touched by a faint red tint as I smiled at this show. “You get me, right? As for selling it… That’s out of the question. I will not sell the third one either, just in case, but we can try selling that axe and dagger I brought, also Sapphira’s unwieldy sword. Those should be worth at least something if we bring it to some antiquarian, and I already know a place we might try to sell it to. Then I can easily buy a cheaper and sturdier replacement should the need arise.”

Sapphira nodded in approval. “And what about the spear?”

“The spear stays with us.”

“Good. Then, Lily, we’ll choose the one more fitting for you sometime later. Sugar will come soon.”

“Thank you. I don’t know what to say…” said Lily in a flustered voice.

I bent down and kissed her short snout on the nose, making her wings spread in surprise and her ears twitch a few times, then lightly ruffled her puffy mane.

“You don’t have to say anything, Lily. Well, I’ll go take a quick shower, as rolling on the dusty floor with the minotaur definitely didn’t make me any cleaner.” I examined my appearance in the mirror on the wall, noticing my shirt and jeans got stained, having a few dirty spots. Everything in this town gets dusty very quickly. “Damn, I don’t even have a spare. Finding suitable clothes is gonna be the first thing I’ll do in this town when I wake up,” I mumbled as I took a towel, going inside the bathroom.

I finished in a few minutes and after putting on my underwear, was trying to beat the dust off my jeans, but I couldn’t say it helped much. Then the bathroom door opened a crack and Lily’s head popped in.

“Ray, what are you doing? Sugar is already here.”

“Dammit, I was trying to beat the dirt off my jeans, but, well, it didn’t work.” I showed her the poor results of my cleaning attempt.

“Oh, come on, did you intend to wear these dusty torn pants?” Lily said with a raised brow. “Put those down and stop spreading dust all around. You’ll only get all dirty again. Just leave them here. We’ll wash them while you sleep.”

“But… I have nothing else to wear at all, or do you expect me to saunter around in my underwear in the presence of Sugar?”

“This again? How many times did Sapphira tell you this already? Come on,” — she walked around me and started pushing me out of the bathroom with her hooves, — “you have everything important covered. Just look at us. We are all naked, and we’re fine with it.”

“Alright, alright,” I grumbled, “but you two will never make me go around totally naked, except for when it’s only us three around.” Nope, I will not succumb to these pushy nudists.

“I promise we won’t even try, so come on, let’s go.” Lily applied more force, pushing me towards the door.

After being unceremoniously evicted from the bathroom, I saw Sugar sitting at the table full of different food. Seems she took it seriously. Our eyes met, and she beamed me a smile, then her gaze involuntarily slipped down examining my now naked body, with toned, albeit not that buffed, muscles. Sapphira was already happily munching on some salad, the fork flying back and forth in her magic aura.

“Wow! That’s a lot, sweety. Are you sure the boss won’t be mad at you?”

Sugar giggled. “Yes, I’m sure. He may seem strict, but he is a good pony.”

“Wait! Is that… a steak? How could you cook a steak in such a short time?”

“Oh, that… I’ve seen you eyeing it on the menu for a long time yesterday, but then you probably decided against ordering it because of the price, I guess? Equestria does not produce much meat, you see, apart from a few remote hunter thestral villages, so the price is usually high. So… I ‘expropriated’ the one intended for a griffon customer. He won’t starve if he waits for a little while longer.” Sugar chuckled. “Our chef didn’t mind.”

“Then,” — I sat at the table, smiling at her, — “I owe you my thanks, sweety! M-m-m, the smell is perfect. Wait, that griffon ordered a steak in the early morning?” I chuckled, taking the cutlery. “What a funny guy. Anyone want a piece?”

“Thanks, Ray, but I prefer meat to be mixed with something else. Eating pure meat is not my thing,” said Lily.

“We, ponies, rarely have a taste for meat, so I’ll pass.” Sugar is obviously not one of those who likes meat.

“I wouldn’t mind trying it,” Sapphira said, eyeing my plate. “Just a little piece.”

I cut a piece of steak for Sapphira and watched as she manipulated the fork with her telekinesis to take it. After taking a whiff, she placed it into her mouth, her teeth easily dealing with its soft texture.

“Hm-m-m…” Sapphira drawled, still chewing, turning her eyes up. “The taste is unfamiliar to me, but I like it, I think. Eat the rest yourself, you need it more than me.”

“As you say, dear.” I chuckled, adding some garnish and salad to my plate, and dug in.

Our meal was held in a relaxed atmosphere. Sugar was telling us various things about the town, and we shared some of our experiences in the jungle with her, but soon the sleepiness attacked me with renewed force.

“Thank you sweety, the food was tasty, but now I should take a nap, or I’ll start dozing off right as we talk. Just don’t mind me, you won’t disturb me no matter how loud you would be.”

“I’m glad you liked the food. Now rest. We’ll try to be quiet.”

“No need, really. I feel like I’ll just black out and sleep like a log for a few hours,” I said, getting up from my chair. Well, I was not lying about it, as once, after being utterly tired, I managed to fall asleep while some bastard was busy drilling walls somewhere in the nearby apartment. My nervousness, which made me sleep light in the jungle, had also disappeared with the absence of a possible danger. I just fell down on the bed and closed my eyes, making myself more comfortable. The girls were chatting about something. Their talk switched to the information Nightowl tried to collect from its various visitors lately, the actual line of Sugar’s work. Still, she is not a trained fighter, neither are the other staff, and I’ll have to talk to the boss about improving the security of this place.

As the myriad of thoughts drifted through my mind, I felt the voices getting muffled, fleeting like waves on a distant shore. In the distance, the darkness of my eyelids gave way to a single light flickering in the dark. It stood alone but ever strong. No wind could touch it, no water could quench it. Barely conscious, I felt that old warmth well up inside of me, neither uncomfortable nor sudden. It came slowly. It felt… like a distant memory, like something that I treasured greatly once before, which has been swept away, like sparks in a wind, leaving behind but a few tiny, smoldering embers, abandoned and forgotten, but never snuffed completely.

Looking further into the flickering light, I saw flames, turning, almost dancing, to what I assume to be wind. Figures appeared, dark at first, moving with neither sound nor the motion of their… legs? They were human, not like me, however. They were slimmer, shorter. They moved like trees in the wind, stretching back and forth, appearing more like shadows than real people. Their hair, stretching out as the winds flew past, took various shapes and colors as it moved, flickering like stars. The plumes of smoke coming out of the fire covered their faces, ash forming the contours of their silhouette. I should remember… I want to, but… I don’t…

My thoughts shifted as soft fur brushed against me gently, as I felt small weights lay on top of my shoulders and chest. Limbs wrapped around me, holding me, seeking love, seeking protection. It was all so lucid as my consciousness faded, but I knew one thing — I’m smiling, I’m happy, I’m loved and in love.

“I love you.” A hushed whisper escaped, and the light disappeared.

Author's Note

Once again I want to say thanks to my friend ericson03, who participated in this chapter's creation.