Author's Note

Foreword from the Author (Hi! It me!): This here little thing is, I suppose, a spring board to start the series. To se up what's going on and when stuff takes place. Undecided as of now if one of these will start a story or end it. Maybe neither. Who knows! Read on, my friends, and safe travels.

Meeting Starlight

"You nervous, Starlight?" Twilight asks the nervous wreck of a unicorn next to her.

"Me? Nervous? Not a chance!" Starlight lies right through her teeth. "You're just taking me to meet a friend of yours that I've never seen around town before or ever heard of until today!"

Twilight just giggles and adjusts her skirt a little, straightening out a crease. "You'll be fine. I think you two will get along just fine."

"You really think so?" Starlight says in a hopeful tone as she looks to her mentor.

"I know so." Twilight reassures her friend. "He's pretty easy to get along with."

Starlight lets out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding at the time. She clasps her hands together. She is thankful for Twilight and her friends giving her something of a chance, but Twilight's recent streak of introducing her to ponies didn't exactly go well. Starlight has so many questions right now though. Like why hasn't she seen him around Ponyville before or heard of him at this point. Did Twilight not trust her enough to mention him until now? Is he a shut-in? She has a feeling she may get some answers as they come to a stop outside of a small home. She looks down the street and sees that they aren't really that far from the castle. Twilight steps up to the front door, giving a few hard knocks, and stands back.

"Coming!" A voice calls back, male, somewhat deep.

What follows next are various sounds of clanging and a loud thud. There's an aroma of sweets in the air and Starlight would be lying if she says it didn't make her mouth water some. The lock on the door clicks, the knob turns, and the door slowly opens. Starlight's jaw drops at the creature that now stands before her. He is bipedal like they are and easily stood a head taller than her. No fur was present underneath his clothes except for the mane on his head and some of it on his face. There's a big grin on his face when he sees both of the mares on his doorstep.

"Twi!" He exclaims as he steps forward and takes her up in a hug. Starlight can see the muscle he built, most likely works out to keep in shape. He kisses her cheeks and Twilight does the same back. "So good to see you! Who's your friend here?"

"Justin." Twilight says his name after stepping out of the hug. "This is Starlight Glimmer. Starlight, this is Justin."

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Starlight." Justin grins at the struck mare, sticking his hand out for her.

Starlight doesn't say anything as she stares at him, idly putting her hand in his. The stallion then pulls her into a tight hug. Despite his strength, he is still gentle with her. "Uh... Twilight, what is he?"

"He's a human." Twilight answers matter-of-factly as he lets Starlight go.

"As far as we know, the only one here in Equestria." Justin chimes in before gesturing to his open front door. "Please! Come is, make yourselves at home!"

Starlight follows her mentor into the small home and her nostrils are assailed with a plethora of smells. The alicorn leads her to the cozy living room where various treats and small sandwiches are present. The human follows close behind, closing the door behind him. He then walks into the open kitchen as the kettle starts to whistle. Twilight doesn't waster any time in grabbing a single fudge bar off one of the platters present on the coffee table. She takes a bite and seems to moan at its taste.

"Justin, you really outdid yourself with the fudge!" Twilight compliments after swallowing the bite.

"Thanks, It's one of Fudge's old recipes." Justin replies as he brings another platter over with the kettle and three tea cups.

Fudge?

"How is she doing? I haven't seen her in ages." Twilight asks as she then finishes the treat.

"She's doing fine, she's really loving the culinary school." Justin smiles, setting down the platter and filling the small cups with tea. "Fudge can't thank you enough for that."

"It's no problem really." Twilight warmly smiles and levitates one of the cups to her, Starlight doing the same. "watching her grow into the bright filly she is today is enough."

Starlight is still a little awestruck at the creature in front of them. He takes a seat one of the two chairs present in the room, a big smile on his face as Twilight converses with him. She's never seen something like him before but he's just talking with Twilight like he's been here a while. Starlight takes an idle sip of tea as the human's gaze soon falls on her, his smile just as warm and big.

"So, Starlight, what's your story?" Justin asks, pulling the mare from her thoughts.

"Oh, uh. I'm nothing special really, just Twilight's student as she teaches me the Magic of Friendship." Starlight awkwardly chuckles. "How long have you been here?"

"Well, in Equestria? About seven years now." Justin replies as he scratches his chin in thought. "In Ponyville? About five."

"Wait. How have you been here for seven years but only been in Ponyville for five?" Starlight asks, now genuinely curious about him.

"I stayed in Canterlot for about two years." Justin chuckles a little. "Mostly in the castle."

"How did you end up in Equestria?" Starlight is leaning forward now with her eyes fixed on the human.

"That.. is a funny story actually." Justin smiles and looks over to Twilight for a moment. "Miss Sparkle-Ass over here was messing with magic a while back and accidentally summoned me as a familiar. As a result, we shared a bond where I couldn't get far without her, felt how eachother felt, and so on."

"Kind of like a magical leash, typical familiar spells." Starlight comments accompanied by a silent nod from Twilight.

"I'm sure I severed it, but there were some... side effects." Twilight interjects after taking a drink of tea.

Starlight glances at both of them. "What happened after that?"

"We both fell into a deep depression. I spent some time in the castle with Celestia while the Princess was preparing to send Twilight here. After a year, it happened. Luna came back, then I spent another year with Luna as she adjusted." Justin continues. "Some of Canterlot left with me when I finally moved here to get connected with Twilight, met her new friends, and well, that's all they wrote as they say."

Twilight couldn't help but let out a giggle, staring at the human.

"And... who is Fudge?" Starlight asks.

"His daughter." Twilight answers on the spot. The look Starlight gives is priceless.

"Well, not my biological daughter, I adopted her after an entire fiasco when I went on a trip to Manehatten." Justin sits back, taking a sip of tea, smiling as he remembers that time. "Brought her home, got her a decent education, and she left home for culinary school, taking some of these Elements with her."

"Sounds like you both are close." Starlight comments.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for my little filly." Justin comments back in a deceitfully cheery tone.

"That' sweet of you." Starlight nods leaning back. "So, what do you do? Why haven't I bumped into you around town before?"

"Well, to be honest, I am somewhat of a home body." Justin answers. "Usually doing odd jobs around town, helpin' Jackie on the farm, or training at the gym."

"It certainly shows." Twilight chimes in with a smirk.

Justin just looks at the alicorn. "Down girl, I get enough looks from other mares."

Starlight chuckles a little and continues to ask questions about the man, getting an honest response each and every time. He lays everything that she could ever want to know about him with Twilight confirming his claims. Eventually she stops asking questions and enjoys her pleasant conversation with the human, finding a new admiration for the creature. In fact, Twilight may have been right about him.

"So, Starlight, If I may ask you something." Justin leans forward, his face becoming serious. "What's the real story about you? You say you're nothing, but Twilight sees something in you, and that's quite something."

Starlight bites her lip and looks over to Twilight. Her mentor giving an encouraging nod. "It's okay, Starlight. You can tell him."

"Well, okay then." Starlight sighs out of defeat. "I used to run a village where I took Cutie Marks from other ponies. Thinking that they drove us apart." She looks up and sees an unreadable face from the human as he intently listens in. "Then Twilight and her friends came along, freed the Cutie Marks. I was... bitter... to say the least. I had all this anger and resent bottled up. I eventually found a spell from Starswirl the Bearded and modified it to get revenge. Nearly tore the Time-Space Continuum apart in the process and almost doomed all of Equestria with it." Justin's face remains unreadable as he soaks in the information. Starlight braces herself for the backlash or for him to start hating her now.

"Damn." Justin finally says as he sits back, no malice present. "That's pretty impressive."

"What?" Starlight asks in disbelief.

"Yeah, you made a stable time travel spell. You got quite a gift there, lady." Justin nods as his face breaks into a grin. "I can see what Twilight sees in you now."

Starlight smiles at the response and he looks at her again.

"Ever hopped realities before?" Justin suddenly asks.

"I'm sorry, what?" Starlight responds a bit dumbfounded.

"Yeah!" Justin heartily laughs as he sits up. "Twilight and I once went to a different Equestria! We faced a different version of me inside of this journal thing. Bested him. Then left!"

"I'll tell you more about it later." Twilight whispers to Starlight. "What'd you end up doing with that journal anyway?"

"Oh! I burned it." Justin replies in a chipper tone. "Thing had bad mojo all over it."

Starlight just nods and the trio continue their happy chatting. The hours soon melt away as the night starts to fall upon the land. Most of the platters of treats and food lay empty with crumbs left on their surface. Justin bids Starlight farewell, giving her a proper goodbye with a nice hug and kissing her cheeks, she returns the gesture with the same. Twilight decides to stay behind to help with the clean up and dishes. Now, here Justin and Twilight are, in his kitchen while they tag-team the dishes. The human washing them while the alicorn rinses them off and sets them in a rack to dry.

"Thanks again for helping clean up, Twily, you coulda just left with Starlight." Justin says with a smile while he washes away.

"It's the least I could do for having us over." Twilight waves him off. "She seems to like you."

"Or you just want to spend more time with me." Justin teases and nods as he hands her a cup. "She's nice, I like her."

"Good." Twilight responds as a light blush creeps across her cheeks. "It's just me repaying you for the wonderful tea."

Justin chuckles and looks over to her as he hands over the last of the dishes. "Whatever helps ya sleep at night, Twi."

Twilight is about to retort but stops when she feels his lips press against her cheek. Leaving her cheek after a kiss.

"You're a good mare, Twilight. Any stallion would be lucky to have you."

"Or maybe a human..." Twilight mumbles under her breath as he leaves the kitchen to let her finish. She then turns around and yells at him. "If you call me Sparkle-Ass around any other pony outside of our friends, I WILL turn your ass into an orange!"