The Flame Prince

After saying goodbye to the stallions myself, Ruby, and Star made our way back home, treats in hoof.

It seemed that the mares had already started preparing to cut down trees, if the various war axes laid neatly against each other and thankfully out of sight on our front porch we're anything to go by.

The only issue was that there we're no mares in sight to wield them.

"Where are the others?" Star Fire asked.

"My own thoughts exactly Star" I mirrored her expression. It wasn't until we heard a calamity from within the house that the three of us moved inside.

Trotting inside revealed that Lilith and Delilah had together successfully moved one of the couches into our sitting room. While Blaze and Fire Strike seemed to be having a bit more trouble with their couch.

"Ugh, Faust bucking tartarus. Why is this thing so heavy?" Fire Strike complained. "Beats me, but you think Flameheart could have picked a couch less Faustdamn heavy?" Blaze replied as they lifted it back into the air.

"Oh, so they're going to be feisty today then eh?" I smirked internally.

"Well if I did then you wouldn't get your daily exercise in now would you" I joked. Immediately both mares jumped and dropped their couch. Landing with a massive thump and causing one of the legs to break.

"Hey, Lilith paid good money for that" I added.

"S-sire, h-how long have you been there?" Blaze asked, her eyes wide.

"Oh long enough Blaze" I smirked externally this time as she gulped. Though after letting her tremble in fear for a few more seconds I relented on the poor mare.

"Hehe, come now Blaze. You know me, I'm not Lord Parmesan. I don't get pissed off at the drop of a hoof for no reason" I joked.

"Heh... Y-yeah I suppose so" she replied shakily.

"Now then, Pinkie has invited all of us to a party this afternoon" I continued.

"Apparently all or a lot of Ponyville will be there, so therefore it would be wise for us to insert ourselves and start forming relationships with the townsponies. Mainly making sure that they see you guys as my herdmates and therefore me as 'off the market' so to speak" I added.

"All right, do you still want us to cut down trees until then?" Ruby asked.

"Eh why not, by the way where is my bag of holding?" I answered and asked.

"Should be upstairs next to our sleeping bags" Star replied, pointing upstairs.

"Brilliant, I'll be right back" I said, turning around and heading upstairs.

The upstairs, like the rest of the house was unfurnished and spacious. With six rooms in total, five bedrooms while the other appeared to be a bathroom.

Reaching our shared room I located my bag of holding and pulled my old war axe out of it. It had been the second weapon I had ever been given and had served me well ever since. Whether they we're Orcs, Changelings, everyday creatures of the Firelands, to even a few zealous dragons. This axe had seen and killed many.

"And today it shall slay a brand new foe, trees!" I proudly thought as I hauled my axe onto my back and made my way back downstairs again. Finding the mares talking amongst each other after magically repairing the leg on the couch.

"So... what exactly is this 'party' again?" Lilith asked, taking one of the "cupcakes" Pinkie had given us.

"Apparently it's a "Welcome To Ponyville Party" that Pinkie Pie does for every new pony that comes to this town" I told her.

"A party... just for that?" Blaze added, taking her own cupcake.

"Mhm" I replied.

"Wait... was that what they we're doing the night we met Twilight?" Fire Strike asked.

"...I think that's what Pinkie said yesterday, right?" I said and looked to Blaze and Lilith for confirmation.

"Yeah, I think she said something like that" Blaze agreed and bit into her cupcake.

"So the Equestrians just... celebrate random events like that?" Ruby inquired.

"Apparently so" I replied.

"And they still work and do other things necessary for their own survival?" she added.

"Well, from what I've seen it looks like they don't need to work as hard as we do back in Ashen. So they can take a bit of a more relaxed approach in life" I explained.

"Huh, that's... interesting" she replied.

"Yeah... but that's what we're here for. Once our mission is complete we'll have the power to conquer Equestria, and take revenge for the thousand or so years of hell we've been forced to endure" I said.

"Indeed".

"Huzzah".

"Here here" the mares cheered. Though noticeably except Blaze, who while we cheered simply stared off ahead of herself with a blank expression.

"Hey Blaze, you okay?" I asked her. She continued to stare forward.

"Blaze?" I tried again, and there was still no response from the mare.

"Blaze!" I yelled and lightly shook her, and thankfully just before I was about to start administering antidotes for poison she jolted and jumped.

"Y-you guys have to try these!" she yelled. Gesturing towards the half eaten cupcake still held in her hoof.

"What?" I asked.

"Prince Flameheart, you have to try this!" she reiterated while placing both her front hooves on my shoulders.

"...Lilith, can you-?" I began.

"Already on it Night" she replied and lit her horn. A scanning spell encompassing all of Blaze's body, checking for anything that could be ailing or mind controlling her.

"Augh, I'm not sick or anything you floozies!" she shook her head before speaking again. "All I'm saying is that this is the best dam... dang food I've ever eaten" she proclaimed. Skeptically we all wondered if she really had been mind controlled, but when Lilith and Delilah's scanning spells both came back negative multiple times we went from fearful to curious about her claims.

The cupcakes certainly did look appetizing, though more often than not that was a poisoned treat's most valuable trait. Still though, they didn't look poisoned or out of date, and our magic and noses didn't detect any poison or foul spells.

So tentatively we looked from the baked goods, to each other, then to Blaze, and back again. Up until one of us grew a pair of ovaries and took a bite, and that somepony was Fire Strike. Who afterwards sported the same look of pure utter shock that Blaze had, and after also stating that we had to try the cupcakes we decided to say buck it.

Biting into it I experienced one of the most enlightening moments of my entire life. This... this was beyond anything that Smoker or any other chef we that had could ever hope to produce. This was... heaven, pure and utter heaven. I had never tasted anything this good before in my entire life.

"Woah, thst isch... amaztching" Star said, mouth full of cupcake.

"Yesch... 'gulp', yes it is" Lilith agreed. Which the others we're quick to voice their own agreements as well, including myself.

"R-royal decree, before we leave Equestria we are to acquire every recipe that Pinkie Pie has. Every single one!" I proclaimed. The mares nodded enthusiastically.

"Excellent" I replied to their head nods. "In addition we can officially start our infiltration of not just her recipe book, but the elements themselves at this party".

"Sir, yes sir" Star replied dutifully.

"Perfect, now in the meantime let's get to cutting down those trees" I said and moved towards the door.

"Wait, you're coming with us?".

"Well of course Lilith, I'm not just going to let you girls do all the work. Why do you think I went upstairs to grab my axe" I told her.

"Oh... y-yeah I... suppose that makes sense" she replied.

"All right then, now let's get to cutting those trees down" I proclaimed.

The mares agreed and after a small trek we found a nice secluded part of a forest away from Ponyville. The mares split into two pony groups and I bounced between them, helping whichever group had the bigger trees. They appreciated this and as such made sure to thank me whenever we took breaks. Though I couldn't help but notice a bit of redness on their muzzles and cheeks.

"Odd".

Sugarcube Corner was bustling with so much activity it almost seemed like the entire town was there. Truly it seemed like Pinkie Pie's parties we're something that the townsfolk took either extremely seriously or held in very high regard, or both.

Even though we we're still outside of the bakery I had already spotted Pinkie Pie dashing around inside, doing Faust knows what.

"Okay, everypony ready?" Ruby asked when we got to the front door.

"Yep, mhm, born ready, indeed, ready when you are, let's do this" we replied.

"All right then, let's go" she added and opened the door. Almost immediately our noses we're hit with the most... incredible scents I've ever smelled in my life, and it was all coming from the food.

Needless to say we we're already salivating.

"Night, Delilah, Fire, Lilith, Star, Ruby, Blaze, you guys made it!" Pinkie shouted in joy.

Instantly nearly every head turned towards us. Probably fifty or so if I had to guess, and while they may not have had outright anger, lust, or dejection written on them I could still tell that a lot of work would need to be done if they we're going to accept us anytime soon.

"Hello again Pinkie" I said and walked up to her.

"How are you all?" she replied, all smile.

"We're fine thanks, how's the party so far?" Lilith asked.

"Good, oh and by the way there are some ponies who want to speak to you" Pinkie replied.

"Really, who?" I asked.

"Us" a voice said. Looking to my right showed that Caramel, Thunderlane, Meadow Song, Lucky Clover, and a red earth pony stallion that I didn't recognize we're all still seated at the same table me, Ruby, and Star had been a few hours ago. The elements we're also present as well, seated at another table just off to the side.

"Oh, hello everypony" I began as I led the way in trotting up to them.

"Hello Night, ladies" Rarity replied. The others giving nods and smiles.

"Hello again Rarity" Delilah responded and pulled out a chair for me, while the rest of the girls said hello and claimed their own seats around the table. "So this is a "Pinkie Party" huh" Lilith added once we had all sat down.

"Yep, and get ready cause this party will put any other parties you guys have ever been too to shame!" Rainbow said.

"Hm, that's a bold claim, though I suppose it isn't that hard to top the yearly and extremely droll Ashen Royal Ball" I thought.

"So what makes these parties so great?" I asked a moment later.

"Ooh ooh ooh the food, absolutely the food!. Anything served at one of Pinkie's parties is absolutely delectable" Meadow said, practically yelling. The other stallions seemed to agree with him. Offering their own two reales into the conversation.

"You guys have to try the souffles, they're absolutely the best." Thunderlane said.

"Well don't forget about the cookies. Especially the sugar ones" Lucky added.

"I am sure that everything here tastes wonderful, especially if Pinkie baked or made it" I said. Though before the stallions could continue their argument Applejack spoke up. "While Ah agree that the food is definitively amazi'n. Ah also have to agree that the games are just as if not even better" she said.

"Games, what games?" Fire asked.

Pinkie, who had been bouncing around between other groups and herds suddenly sprinted back over and deposited multiple boxes, a black piece of cloth, and what looked to be a fake pony's tail onto our table. "These games Fire Strike, you guys enjoy!" she said before sprinting back off to do Faust knows what.

"Em... okay then. Uh, so who wants to play what first?" Ruby said.

"I think pin the tail on the pony would be a good start" Twilight replied, lit her horn, dragged the cloth and fake (or at least I hoped it was) tail over to herself.

"Ruby, you don't perchance know how to play this do you?" I whispered to her.

"No idea" she replied. A quick look at the rest of my mares showed similar looks of uncertainty. "Uh Twi, what ya doin?" I heard Applejack ask.

"Oh uh... n-nothing Applejack hehe, just checking to make sure I... did something earlier!" the unicorn replied. Looking back over I saw Twilight phase a book out of existence before she spoke up again.

"Alright! Everypony ready to play?" she added.

"Yes, though how exactly do you play this game?" I asked, and immediately realized that had been the absolute wrong thing to say as every single Equestrian in our little group suddenly stared at me for what felt like hours. With Meadow being the first one to regain his voice.

"Night... what do you mean "how do you play this game?"" he asked.

"...I meant that I don't know how to play it Meadow" I replied. Though it seemed that Meadow, along with the rest of the Equestrians simply couldn't accept that answer.

"What! But how do you not know how to play pin the tail on the pony? That game is taught in like... preschool" Rainbow Dash added.

"Because we don't know how to play it" I answered her.

"What, but... exactly how far north are you guys from again?" she asked.

"Pretty far north Dash... like really far" Delilah spoke up.

"Oh... okay then I guess we'll just have to teach you guys how to play it" Twilight spoke up with an almost... not quite frantic but... nervous. A nervous smile.

"Interesting".

"Since you're the athletic one here Rainbow why don't you explain how it works" Twilight gestured to the rainbow maned mare. Who rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Alright then, the object of the game is to put this fake tail where it would go on a drawing of a normal pony" she began.

"That's it?" I thought. Though Blaze decided to voice her own thoughts.

"Wait that's the whole game? It doesn't seem very difficult" she said.

"True, but there's a catch, and that catch is that you have to do it... blindfolded" she added dramatically.

"B-b-b... blindfolded!?"

"Ahh I see now" Fire Strike said. "Do you play this while drunk too or no?" she added while making an inquisitive expression.

The Equestrian reactions we're pure laughter and chuckling.

"Hehe".

"Pft, no".

"Goodness that would be quite the sight".

"Haha yeah. Could you imagine it, we might not even need a blindfold if we're drunk".

I however had completely zoned out, thinking, or rather dreading about a much younger time in my life. Back when my father and sisters we're still alive.

"Come on Flameheart, it'll be quick. In and out, twenty minute adventure. You like adventures right?"

"You're my best friend, of course I care about you".

"Look at this, you're such a cute little prince in distress. Too bad there's no dashing knight to rescue you here!"

"Did you actually think we we're ever really friends!?"

"Gah!" I jumped. Blaze, who had lightly prodded me with a hoof also recoiled while the rest of the surrounding ponies stared.

"I uh... sorry I... spaced out. What we're you saying Rainbow" I replied.

"How funny drunk blindfolded pin the tail on the pony would be. You okay Night, you jumped pretty hard there?' she asked.

"Buck! Now they're suspicious of something"

"Yeah I'm fine, I just... really spaced out. Let's get to playing" I said. Probably not very convincingly.

"I'm a bucking moron".

"Okay... uh I'll go first I guess?" Rainbow said and stood up while placing the blindfold over her eyes.

We watched as she was then spun around a dozen or so times before Fluttershy and Rarity gently stopped and pointed her in the direction of the drawn pony. Slowly Rainbow shuffled forwards, swaying back and forth as she approached the drawing before slamming the tail down.

"There, right on the flank" she proclaimed with the confidence of a dragon cornering a foal.

"Hrk".

"Pft".

"Hehe".

Annoyed at the giggling she turned around.

"What, why are you all laughing?" she asked and lifted her blindfold.

"Rainbow Dash you um... might want to turn around" Lucky snickered. Rainbow did and her eyes went to the size of dinner plates when she saw where she had placed the tail. For instead of the flank she had placed the tail onto the pony's head. One of if not the furthest possible places she could have placed it.

"Wha... but I was sure I had it...

"Haha Rainbow you couldn't have placed it more wrong if you tried" Pinkie laughed.

"Where the buck did she come from!?"

"Well... I'd like to try and see you do better" she replied to Pinkie. Pinkie simply shrugged, grabbed the tail, put on another blindfold, spun herself around so fast and so many times I couldn't count. Trotted over on shaky hooves and with extreme precision smacked the tail right onto the pony's rump, perfectly.

Suffice to say we we're all pretty flabbergasted and Rainbow quite upset.

"Wha... b-but how did you. How is that even... well, possible" she stuttered.

"Simple, I've played every party game in the book since I was a filly" she laughed.

"Wow".

"Every party game, darling how many even are there?" Rarity asked. Pinkie thought for a moment.

"Well, there's about forty traditional Equestrian party games but I suppose there would also be Griffon, Diamond Dog, Minotaur and... hmm. I'll get back to you on that Rarity" she said and hopped away.

"All right then... who wants to go next?" Thunderlane asked.

After a moment of deliberation it was decided for Star to go next. She did quite well, managing to place the tail onto the rear end of the withers. Up next was Rarity who placed the tail on the pony's stomach. After her Caramel went, then Fluttershy, shortly followed by Twilight.

Eventually after progressing through enough ponies I was up, and I was not happy about it.

"Okay, it's just a blindfold, it's just a blindfold. You're not in enemy territory... okay you are but not in a Changeling hive. You have an entire squad of guards here if something goes wrong. Just do it".

"Night, are you gonna go?" Lucky asked me.

"Huh oh yeah, where's... the blindfold" I gulped.

"Right here" Twilight replied and levitated it over to me. Even with all of my mental preparation it still took me a second to actually grab it.

"You okay, you're acting... jumpy?" Rainbow asked.

"Y-yeah just... I'm fine, just fine" I said and placed the blindfold onto my forehead. Next I grabbed the fake tail with my left hoof, now I was ready.

"Okay, I can do this, I can do this. Just imagine them around you". Shaking, I slowly pulled the blindfold over my eyes. Now completely blind Ruby and Lilith began to spin me around.

"Look Flameheart I didn't love you, I didn't care about you and we we're never friends. I only approached you because you're a colt and therefore a gullible fool!".

"All set?" Lilith asked me.

"Huh... oh I'm fine Lilith" I replied and slowly staggered forward. I kept going forward until I felt the wall against my nose.

"Ow".

Quickly I placed the tail somewhere onto what I hoped was the drawing and took the blindfold off as fast as subtlety would allow.

"Nice job Night, right on the barrel" Meadow called.

"Oh... yeah, I didn't do half bad eh" I smiled.

"Yeah good job, a lot better than Rainbow's attempt" Pinkie called out from another table.

"Hey!"

"You did a good job sweetie" Ruby trotted up and hugged me so that her muzzle was next to my ear. "We'll talk about this later" she whispered.

"Who's next?" Twilight asked.

After my unforeseen panic attack the party proceeded quite swimmingly. Our group got to know each other, played other Equestrian party games like "Limbo" and partook in other activities as well such as breaking "Pinata's", and dancing in "Conga Lines".

All in all I had so much fun I almost completely forgot about my little freakout from earlier.

"How are you doing?" Turning to my left I saw Ruby looking at me.

"Fine why?" I replied. In response she gave me a deadpan expression.

"Don't be like that, I've known you for years and I know when you're full of manure. You freaked out earlier and that blindfold had something to do with it. Now are you going to be a big boy and tell me what's wrong or do I have to pry it out of you like when we we're younger" she threatened and held both her front hooves up in a threatening stance.

I involuntarily shuddered as long forgotten memories of what those hooves we're capable of came flooding back all at once. The suffering, the mercilessness, the laughter... Ruby's hooves we're no joke when it came to tickle torture, and I was all well too aware of that fact.

"Alright alright, you don't have to do that" I placated, and she placed herself closer to me so that our bodies we're leaning against one another.

"Then tell me what's wrong" she said.

"Heh... do you... remember what happened just before my father and sisters died?" I asked, and her eyes lit up.

"You mean... that whole thing with... Valkyrie?" she asked.

"Yes" I involuntarily shuddered.

"What about it, what does that have to do with this?" she reiterated.

"When she... captured me she... restrained me and... blindfolded me before, well... everything happened" I explained.

"Ah, I understand. Do you want to leave?" she said before hugging me. I thought about it and while it was tempting it wouldn't be a benefit to our situation. If anything it would only cause problems and generate confusion.

"No I'll be fine. So long as there aren't any more blindfolds" I smiled.

"Okay" she smiled back before then kissing me on the cheek. Suffice to say I was quite flabbergasted at such a bold action.

"Wha-w-why d-did you d-do t-that?" I asked, blushing profusely.

"You mean why I kissed my dashing colt? Because I felt like it" she replied and winked at me.

Quickly I worked to get myself under control. Me and Ruby went back a very long time but she had never done anything like this before. The closest thing up till that would have been when she helped comfort me after my father and sisters got killed.

Thankfully it seemed nopony had noticed that little stunt of hers. As Fire, Delilah, Lilith, and Blaze we're busy playing cards with some of the elements. The stallions we're talking to each other, and Star was busy conversing with Lyra and Bon Bon.

"Well, at least nopony saw that".

"Are you curious about what they're talking about?" Ruby asked me.

"What?" I replied.

"What they are talking about" she repeated, gesturing towards the three mares.

"Not really, I trust Star" I said, not really understanding what she was getting at.

"Well I want to know why those two decided to speak to her" Ruby finalized before getting up and going over to speak with them, and since I really had nothing better to do I stood up myself to join them.

"So you guy's are from where again?" I heard the green coated mare, Lyra, ask the youngest member of my current guard detail.

"Very far north miss Lyra. I can't point it out on any map for you, I'm sorry" Star Fire replied.

"No worries Star, oh hello Night. Nice to see you again" Lyra added once me and Ruby trotted up to her.

"Hello again Lyra, Bonbon" I replied.

"Good afternoon Night, how are you and your herd doing? Me and Lyra heard you bought the Pear's old farmhouse" the earth pony replied.

"Good, apart from... a few individuals we've been settling in nicely" I said. Noticeably without my left eye fidgeting this time whenever somepony brought up the topic of my herd.

"That's good, though if it helps me and Lyra are both sorry about how those... ponies have been acting towards you all" Bonbon added.

"Oh, thank you then. It was... difficult at first but I have quite a few big strong mares to chase them away" I said while nuzzling Ruby. Who in turn smiled and reciprocated my action.

"Hehe yeah... those mares had it coming" Lyra smiled.

"Mhm, so what have you two been up to" I replied.

"Oh uh, we've been around. Just trying to get back into routine after Nightmare Moon's return and all" Lyra continued.

"That's good, what do you do for a living though, if you don't mind me asking?" I asked. Both mares seemed to hesitate for a moment before Bonbon replied.

"I'm a confectioner, which just means I make and sell candy. I have my own shop too if you ever want to buy some, and Lyra's a musician. She occasionally travels around Equestria to participate in concerts and plays her instrument, the lyre, here in Ponyville sometimes too" she said.

"Oh, that's nice. Though what exactly is a 'lyre'?" I asked.

"You've never heard of a lyre before?" Lyra asked, and with myself, Ruby, and Star just shaking our heads in the negative the mare perked up in pure excitement.

"I'll be right back" she smiled before teleporting away, momentarily blinding us. Now it was just us three and Bonbon, which was a bit... awkward to say the least.

"So... do you guys have any hobbies or anything?" the earth pony asked. Trying to keep the conversation rolling.

"Well, I like history and literature, while Ruby enjoys... outdoor activities" I replied while Star came up with her own response. "Mhm, and spellcasting is something I like to do a lot as well" she added.

"Really, you like spells? Err... actually I guess that fits with you being a unicorn and all. What kind of spells do you like?" Bonbon continued.

"Oh um... well" Star stuttered, probably not certain just how much of her magical capabilities she could afford to reveal. It wasn't like she had a bad repertoire of spells, but from what we'd seen so far of Equestrian society perhaps too many.

Thankfully though she, or rather we we're saved by Lyra suddenly teleporting back in with what looked to be some sort of instrument in her hooves. All in all it just simply looked like a harp in my humble opinion, though I'm sure there was some random minute difference.

"Here's a lyre Night, do you want to see me play it?" she asked excitedly.

"Perhaps a little too excitedly".

"Sure, why not" I replied, grateful for her distraction from Bonbon's question.

With a smile Lyra assumed a playing position and began playing her instrument. She started off slowly, steadily building up a quicker pace as she went, and before we knew it she was already at a much more moderate tempo. Whatever piece she was playing was very good and while I can't speak for my two guardsmares next to me, she managed to completely enrapture me with her music, and before I knew it she was playing even faster.

I even felt a few tears form in my eyes. Though of course I made sure to never let them show, the old bastard who'd taught me etiquette wasn't given the job out of nepotism, sadly. But back to the topic at hoof, Lyra's playing was just... magical. So much so that I never even realized I had begun leaning against Ruby while Star began leaning against me.

It was only after Lyra finished her now near fervorous playing that we, along with a few other herds, couples, and ponies realized we had been cuddling together during Lyra's little impromptu performance, and I felt myself blush a little at this.

"Wow Lyra that was wonderful" I said, quickly straightening myself and hoping to move the conversation along before they could notice my little predicament.

"Thank you Night, I'm glad you enjoyed it" she replied.

"Who composed that if you don't mind me asking?" Lilith, who had just trotted up and sat down next to Star asked.

"Oh, that's Marezart uh... Lilith?" Lyra both asked and answered.

"Mhm, you're correct and that was some wonderful playing I must say" the mare complimented Lyra.

"Oh um... thank you, not a lot of ponies think that" Lyra replied.

"W-what! But you-you're amazing, how can ponies not compliment you after a performance like that" Lilith added.

"Well... a lot of the times I'm usually shown up by other musicians at the concerts I perform at" she explained.

"Huh, that's a real shame. You play the lyre very well" I said, and the green mare's cheeks turned a light crimson in response as she looked away.

"Uh... t-thank you Night" she replied.

"No problem" I said.

"So I heard you guys managed to wrestle quite a few bits out of Filthy Rich, how did you manage that? The colt's not known for giving up money that easily" Bonbon changed the subject.

"Oh I offered to sell him a gem in exchange for the money. He seemed like quite a nice stallion in my opinion" I answered her.

"Wait what!? That little bas... er um,brat... was nice to you. We're talking about a middle aged stallion with light brown fur and a black mane right. With three money bags with a bit symbol on his flank?" Lyra asked.

"Um yes?" I replied. Not quite certain what a bit symbol was, but based off of Lyra's correct description of the stallion I decided to answer in the affirmative to her.

"Wow... must've been a pretty rare gem then" Bonbon added.

"Apparently so" I muttered.

"What was that?" the beige mare asked.

"Nothing" I replied quickly.

"Quick you moron, think of something to change the subject".

"So if you guys don't mind me asking, how do you all know how to fight so well" Bonbon asked out of nowhere.

"What...?" was Ruby's oh so great response.

"Me and Lyra we're both in the crowd when Nightmare Moon returned and we saw both Night and Delilah fight her" she explained to me.

"Oh uh yeah, well our village kinda always remembered the mare in the moon through a festival towards her" I bullshitted.

"Really, then why did you attack her then. Your village wasn't full of batponies or something right?" she replied.

"Well... it was more of a 'please don't attack and burn our homes to the ground when you do return' kind of thing. So me and Delilah both kind of already knew what she was planning" I explained to her. Bonbon didn't look satisfied. "Okay, but then why didn't you tell me and Lyra that earlier that day?" she asked.

"Oh, w-well... we didn't really... know that she - Ahem, what Bonbon here is trying to say" Lyra cut me off. "Is that while we would have appreciated if you had told us. But if you didn't know that she would appear here then that is fine, right Bon?" she finished, partially glaring at Bonbon, and I breathed a much needed internal sigh of relief.

"Phew, thank you Lyra".

"Yes Lyra, and... sorry guys" Bonbon replied.

"That's alright we understand. If six mares and a stallion just showed up out of nowhere on the day of Nightmare Moon's return and began furiously fighting her I'd be a little curious too" Star said.

"Right... so Ruby you like 'adventuring' according to Night?" Bonbon asked. This seemed to catch the disguised flamepony off guard.

"Yeah... why do you want to know?" she replied.

"Just wondering, I liked to play in the woods and go camping as a filly. So I was just wondering what kind of stuff you got up to as foal" Bonbon explained.

"Mhm... well there was this one time me and Nightie here got up to some mischief" she began a heavily edited tale of the time we both snuck out of her guard training and my etiquette classes to go to a small cave located near the top of a smaller inactive volcano just south of Ashen.

It was our little friend groups hangout spot when we we're foals, and we spent quite a bit of time there as foals.

Lyra and Bonbon seemed to like the story quite a bit, with Star cracking a small smile as well.

"So what happened when you both came back?" Lyra asked, and we both adopted hallowed expressions. "Let's just say they we're not happy with us" I smirked.

"Yeah I can imagine" Lyra chuckled. "That actually reminds me of the time that I snuck off to a concert with some friends on a school night".

After talking to Lyra and Bonbon for a little while longer we eventually decided that it was getting late as more and more ponies began heading home for the evening.

"Thank you again for the food Pinkie" Lilith said.

"Yeah, you really know how to cook" Blaze added, with the rest of us nodding in agreement.

"You guys are welcome. Enjoy it and welcome to Ponyville" the pink mare smiled before shutting the door to Sugarcube corner.

"Hehe, it's always funny to see newcomers go nuts over Pinkie's desserts" Meadow chuckled.

"Well can you blame us, this is literally the best thing I've ever eaten" Blaze replied.

"True that mare" Lucky Clover added. Me and my mares however just looked at him.

"True that?" I asked, and the colt now looked embarrassed.

"It's... it's a figure of speech Night. It just means that I agree with you" he explained.

"Huh, never heard of that one before. Thank you for explaining Lucky" I smiled, trying to get the poor stallion out of his newfound embarrassment. Which seemed to work as he smiled back.

"Alright, Ahm head home fer the night. You guys take care now" Applejack spoke up and started off back towards her farm. With the rest of our little group soon copying her initiative and beginning our own treks home.

"You guys have a good night" Twilight called.

"You too Twi, thanks" I replied back before turning to face my mares.

"Alright ladies, I'm tired and we have a busy day tomorrow, so let's get home" I said.

"Hawh, agreed" Lilith yawned, with the others nodding their own agreements.

"Indeed, though I have to say the Equestrians have been a lot nicer than I expected them to be" Delilah said as we started off.

"Yeah... they really have been, haven't they" I added.

"Yeah, though this doesn't change anything, right?" Fire Strike asked.

"No, of course not. Friendly or not the Equestrians would still execute us the moment they find out the reason that we are here" I replied.

"No matter how welcoming they have been" I thought and continued to think about until we arrived back at our house.

Trotting inside we all decided to just go straight to bed, or at least that's what I thought up until we reached our bedroom. As as soon as I entered I suddenly found myself enveloped within Ruby's forelegs.

"Wah... w-what are you doing?" I asked. However she nor any of the others answered me, instead choosing to either hug me as well or drag their hooves along my withers in a comforting gesture.

It wasn't until after about thirty seconds of this that Ruby spoke up.

"You remember back in Sugarcube Corner how I told you we we're gonna talk about your little freakout earlier?" she asked.

"Wha... oh, Ruby you... you don't have to hmph" she cut me off by shushing me with a hoof.

"Oh yes I do, Flameheart. We have known each other since foalhood, and if I was there for you during Valkyrie's little reign of terror then I am not not going to be here for you now. Not if you're still suffering from that harlot's actions" she said before then gesturing towards the rest of our group.

"And while they did not personally know you then I assure you that Delilah, Lilith, Fire, Star, and Blaze all want to be here for you as well. But we can only help you if you let us. So please, let us help you and tell us what happened earlier" she added.

Tentatively I looked at each mare hovering around me. Each one was smiling while either hugging, nuzzling, or performing some other gesture of affection. I knew they all wanted to help me, the only question remaining was could I mare up and let them.

"When V-Valkyrie captured me she took me back to their hive, as you all know" I began.

"Yes, and you said that she blindfolded you?" Ruby asked.

"Correct, you never saw it because you didn't find me first Ruby but, after putting that blindfold over my eyes she taunted me. Did things... and... she would've done more had you guys not found me in time" I explained, shaking slightly,

"I see..." Ruby added.

"So when I put that Faustdamned blindfold on earlier it... brought back memories of her taunting me, touching me, and... and..." I shuddered, unable to finish that sentence.

"Your family" Star finished for me.

"Yes... them and... how weak I was. How I couldn't fight back, how I couldn't help them" I sniffled.

"I see, but that was a long time ago Flamie" Ruby began, using my foalhood nickname.

"Though of course that doesn't make it any easier, but you do know Valkyrie is dead right?" she asked.

"Yes Ruby, I know she is dead" I whimpered.

"Good, and so therefore she cannot hurt you ever again right?" she continued.

"Yes" I repeated.

"Good, and you know that me, the girls, and every other mare in Ashen will always protect you from any other Changeling subterfuge correct?" she asked while running both her forehooves down my withers.

I nodded in her embrace.

"Good, now then let's get some sleep" she said and before I could move she got up and carried me over to her sleeping bag.

"Ruby... what are you doing?" I asked. The mare smiled at me.

"Going to bed, while comforting one of my best friends" she smiled while slinking beneath the covers with me still in her arms.

"Just like when we we're younger, though without Firestorm, Ellie, Electra, or Vesta" she said. "Though I can somewhat fix that" she whispered in my ear before waving over the rest of our septet.

Slowly they walked over, like me not quite understanding what was happening. Or at least before Ruby opened her muzzle again.

"Pull those sleeping bags together and come cuddle your stallion" she ordered, much to the surprise of everypony else involved.

"W-what?"

"Like, as a herd?"

"You know where not herding right?"

"That... that... isn't... I, uh".

"Oh come on you bunch of sissies, your stallion is in need of some comforting. So are you all going to be responsible mares and help your stallion in his time of need. Or are you going to be a bunch of pussies and shy away from your duties as mares" Ruby scolded them.

After thinking for a moment, one by one, all five remaining mares slowly pulled up their own sleeping bags and joined me and Ruby's cuddle pile.

"That's better, do you feel better now Flamie?" Ruby asked once we we're all settled in.

"Y-yeah" I said from the middle of the mare sandwich.

"Good, now let's get some sleep. We've got a back breaking day tomorrow building furniture and I don't want anypony exhausted for it" Ruby said. With that we all nodded and began to settle in for the night.

And I had to admit, it was nice feeling a bunch of warm. strong ponies whom I knew I could trust all around me.

Ones that I knew could protect me.