The Traveling Horseman

''Prepare? How do you want to prepare for... whatever! It's the middle of the night Traveler. You should rest before you want to go anywhere, but not to the Everfree!'' Demanded Twilight.

''I'm going to prepare mentally and physically.'' Turned around Traveler. ''And if you haven't figured out yet, I have to find a place to sleep. That means, I can't sleep like you do.'' He explained.

Twilight couldn't imagine how he felt. Couldn't able to sleep? Sure, it sounded useful for Twilight if she want to stay up, studying all night and all day.
But as she thought about it even more, it actually sounded terrible. Not being able to dream... just awful.

''So that's why you're a spirit. Now I understand.'' She said.

''Hmm... I almost forgot...'' Said Traveler and walked back to the maps.

Twilight watched as he summoned his map, placed it next to the two incomplete maps and placed his hands on them. A purple aura surrounded the maps and it looked like the energy was flowing trough his body. From Twilight's maps, to his.

Twilight approached the table and saw his map showing the parts of Equestria, which he haven't seen yet. The blank areas on his map now shoved more towns, forests, mountains etc. Even the borders of Equestria appeared on it.

''You-...'' Twilight started.

''Copied the two on to my map? Yes.'' He finished.

Twilight wanted to know this spell, but remembered what he wanted to do. As he walked out the door, she came up with a good excuse.

''Wait! You said you want to repair your clothes. My friend happened to be one who makes cloths and dresses... and I know where she is.'' ''Spike is at Rarity. I bring him there, he gets his clothes and I can send a letter to the Princess. YES! That's it. Problem solved...'' She thought.

Traveler stopped. ''Hmm... I really need to repair my gear. Clever girl, now she thinks she can talk me down to not go there. Only if she knows what am I capable of.'' ''Fair enough. I will be outside, preparing and resting. We will meet in the morning.'' And with that, he went outside.

When the door closed, Twilight allowed herself a squee of victory and went to her bed.

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Outside the library, Traveler summoned his horse. ''Lets rest for now Sprint!'' He said and the horse laid down next to the library door. The green flames died out and the horse closed it's eyes. Traveler sat down next to it and leaned against his horse's neck. He crossed his arms and let his head fall forward. Closing his eyes, he waited, pretending like he's asleep.

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Twilight woke up tiredly. She couldn't sleep, because of her new, crazy guest. As she remembered about her guest, she quickly brushed her mane, washed herself and went outside. There she saw a HUGE pony, lying on the ground and his guest was leaning against him. (Twilight is a pony, so she knows who is a stallion or mare.)

She was loud enough to get Travelers attention. He stood up and looked at her. ''Sleep well?'' He asked with a smirk as he saw Twilight's bloodshot eyes. After he received a glare, he continued. ''When are we leaving?''

''I have to do a few things, so meanwhile, please stay here...'' She told him tiredly.

''Sprint!'' Traveler spoke up and his horse's glowing eyes opened.

Twilight gasped as the huge pony caught on green fire. She was about to help the poor thing, when he disappeared on the ground. She looked at the man, as he retreated his greenly flaming hands.

''Who was he?'' Gaped Twilight.

''He was Sprint. My horse. He's carrying me everywhere in the world and to worlds.'' He explained.

Poor Twilight wanted to know more, but she saw him laying his chest down on the ground. He placed his hands next to himself and pushed himself up. ''Now what are you doing?'' She asked.

''I told you I have to prepare. So I'm doing some exercises. I spent a few months riding on Spirit, so I'm out of shape.'' He explained. ''Now please, finish what you have to finish! I want to go soon.''

Twilight stood there for a second, then shrugged and went back inside.

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''Aaaaand... there. I'm done!'' Twilight levitated her 'to-do-list' and ticked 'self organizing'. She was too focused on her work, to notice the time.

''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! A MONSTER!'' Came the screaming from outside.

Twilight knew what happened. ''Oh no! Oh no! Ohnoohnoohno!'' She looked at the time. ''Eight in the morning! NO! Ponyville woke up!'' She rushed outside. ''TRAVELER!'' She cried out as she stopped in front of the library.

''Looks like the citizens are awake...'' Stated Traveler, who pulled himself up on a branch and slowly descending down. He repeated the process a few times, then landed on the ground. He turned around to see a shocked Twilight.

''No, no, no, No, NO! This is not good. How could I forgot about the other ponies?!'' She started pacing around, trying to think about a solution.

''Can we go now? Let's just ignore them. It's not every day, you see a flaming horse.'' He pointed at Sprint, who stood at the side of the library... exactly where the screaming came from.

''They didn't see you?'' Asked Twilight.

''Nope.'' He simply answered.

Twilight sighed from relief and calmed down. ''Alright, then let's go. I'm done with my 'to-do list'.''

''Lead the way!'' He said and Sprint disappeared, like last time.

Twilight saw that. ''How did he do that?''

''I can summon him to ride somewhere else, or send him back to my talisman.'' He explained and pointed at his talisman on his right leg.

''And why does he let you ride on him?'' She asked him.

Traveler sighed and knew what's going to happen.

''Lets play mutual information sharing!''

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T&T talked about their own adventures. Twilight told him about her friends and how they saved Equestria. Traveler told her about different universes, worlds and close death events.

''Then Map opened the portal and Sprint brought me trough it. I ended up in a field and had a look around and...'' He told her how he met Rainbow Dash too.

''I must say, you went trough a lot.'' Commented Twilight.

''Thousand years of traveling...'' He said.

On the road, Twilight couldn't help, but notice the watchful eyes of the citizens. She tried to hide her nervousness by talking with her guest. It helped a little, but she kept lowering and lowering her head to avoid eye contact.

And Traveler: ''You may be clever and plan everything, but now... you made this to yourself Twilight Sparkle. I won! ... If I can remember, the boys back at the human world, calls this 'trolling'. Well... I'm not a troll and I don't really understand why they call the clever ones 'trolls'. And again, this is the human for you.''

Finally, they arrived at the... ''Carousel Boutique... so she's a tailor. Good.'' Said Traveler.

''Well, yes. But she can make more things than just simply clothes. She had materials for a lot of things.'' Explained Twilight and she went to knock on the door.

*Knock, knock* ''Come in!'' Called a lady from inside.

The two walked inside. ''Okay. Rarity is my friend, I can calm her down before she-...''

But before Twilight could finish her thought...

''Twilight darling! How wonderful to see you and *GASP*.'' Rarity appeared behind a table and disappeared as she fainted.

Twilight facehoofed and Traveler just stared. ''Drama queen...''

''UGH! You've got to be kidding me!'' Exclaimed Twilight and went to help her friend.

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Rarity woke up on a couch in her boutique. ''My... what happened?'' She whined.

''Finally, you're awake! I though you will stay like this for the whole day!'' Twilight appeared next to her.

''Oh! Twilight! Darling, you are not going to believe what I dreamed.'' She reached out and grabbed Twilight by the shoulders. ''Those clothes! They were awful! AWFUL!''

''I though you fainted because you freaked out because of him.'' She pointed her hoof at Traveler who was looking outside the window.

Rarity turned her head towards him and was about to faint when...

''Miss Rarity! I like your clothes, can you repair mine, before you faint?'' Asked Traveler and turned towards the two unicorn.

Rarity eyes fell on his clothes than just realized who... or more like what is talking to her. She took a deep breath and turned to her friend. ''Twilight? Mind telling me what is a diamond dog doing here?''

''He's not a diamond dog Rarity he is a... a...'' Twilight tried to remember.

''A humanoid spirit.'' Traveler helped her out.

''Yes, a human, or humanoid spirit. Whatever, he wants to repair his clothes.'' Twilight explained to her and looked around. ''Where is Spike? I need to send a letter to the Princess to...'' She looked back at Traveler who stood at the windows... out of earshot.

Twilight leaned closer to Rarity. ''To inform the Princess about Traveler. He's from another worlds and he wants to go to the Everfree Forest. He doesn't know how dangerous that place is.'' She whispered.

''Then why are you holding him back darling? If he wants to go then let him. Why do you care about it?'' Rarity whispered back.

''Miss Rarity has a point Twilight Sparkle!'' Traveler called back to them. A purple glow disappeared from his ears and he turned around. ''Didn't I tell you what I went trough? I appreciate your concern, but to send your Princess after me for that? Waste of time for you. I have all the time in the worlds.''

''But you want to find a peaceful place to sleep forever. The Everfree Forest is everything, but not peaceful.'' Twilight was still confused why he wanted to go there.

''Maybe you mistaken. The peaceful place can be an abandoned place too. Where no one disturbs me in my eternal slumber.'' He told her.

''But...''

''No darling!'' Rarity stopped her. ''Let him go and let me do my work for him.'' She got up from the couch and walked closer to him.

She looked over his dirty, torn apart and burnt clothes. ''*Yack* How can you walk around in these? They're everything, but fashionable.'' Said a disgusted Rarity.

''Traveling trough worlds is not the cleanest thing Miss Rarity. I always try to find a tailor and a blacksmith to repair my armor and cloths.'' He pulled of his hood and long, red scarf to reveal a long, dirty, black hair. It nearly reached his shoulders. ''Here, I need a thicker one. I always forgot about the cold nights.''

Then he pulled off the straps and another thing that has a string attached to both ends. It looked like a 'D', made from wood and one strong string. A backpack fell to the ground and he placed the 'D' object next to it. He unbuttoned his robe to reveal a green camouflage, long-sleeved shirt. Straps ran around his shoulder and brown pouches hang on those straps.
On his blue belt hang some more pouches and something else...

''Uhm... Traveler? Why do you have two big knife, some sharp claw like things on both sides and... that 'L' shaped thing on your belt?'' Asked Twilight fearfully. Rarity saw that too and backed away from him.

''To protect myself. I told you about my adventures, but I think I missed those parts where I had to defend myself. I use the daggers to cut out chunks from wood for arrows. I use the arrows for my bow to hunt and those claw like things are called simply 'claws'. Useful for combat and climbing. The 'L' shaped thing is a gun. I got it from the humans world, but I ran out of ammo. And I doubt you ponies have ammo shops where I can get some bullets for it.'' He blankly answered and continued dressing down.

The girls glanced at each other and back to him. He dropped his belt and got out from his brown trousers. It had a lot of holes and cuts and... blood. ''I want to get this blood out of it. Can you do something with these red marks? It makes a terrible smell and the animals can find me easier.'' He asked Rarity, who just nodded and watched with wide eyes as he threw the bloody trouser on the ground.

He pulled off the long-sleeved shirt and the girls saw a brown leather armor, covering his upper body. The body armor had shoulder plates too, but not that strong, like the one on the straps.
Elbow plates and knee pads on blue bandages, so it wont hurt his skin.
Wrists had some strange leather protection too. The upper side of the wrist plates had a thicker part, that he can use to bash enemies.
The gauntlets had a special hole, so he can attach his 'claws'.

After he dropped those armors to the ground, another long-sleeved shirt was there. It was thinner and had blue color. He gave it to Rarity too. She would gladly grab it with her magic, but the multiple cuts on his body caught her eyes and Twilight's.

He kicked his shoes to his backpack and thought for a moment. ''May I use the shovers or baths?'' He asked.

''Traveler, it's not that kind of place.'' Spoke up Twilight.

''Right this way!'' Said Rarity happily to help and led the spirit to the bath.

Traveler quickly went to his gear and grabbed a knife, before any one could see it.

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Rarity led him to the bath tub. ''Make yourself at home, I'll make your clothes for you!'' She said and went to another room.

He dropped his boxer and climbed inside. ''Human underwear is much better...'' He thought and washed out his underwear. When he was satisfied with it's cleanness, he placed it at the edge of the tub.

It was so long, since he had a good bath. So he started washing himself.

Meanwhile Twilight asked Rarity. ''Where is Spike?''

''I sent him to get some materials for my NEWEST idea. It will be fabulous.'' She dramatically said and went back to work.

''Who were you so kind with him? Didn't you heard what he said... and how he said?'' Twilight asked her. She suddenly had a bad feeling about Traveler.

Rarity stopped and turned to her. ''I wanted to get rid of him Twilight. I don't want a dirty... thing, walking around in my boutique. Now, I'm just gonna make his clothes quickly and then he can finally go.''She turned back to the clothes. ''And you shouldn't force him back darling. In my opinion, I wouldn't mind, if he never comes back to us.''

''Now, I have work to do. Just keep calm and he will go.'' With that said, Rarity started repairing the clothes.

Twilight walked to Traveler's backpack and looked over what he had. She was still disturbed about what Traveler said. ''Hunt... what is he doing with these weapons? And those cuts... I have to send a letter to the Princess.''

So she sat down on the couch and waited...

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It was now a hour, since Rarity and Traveler went to their own business. Twilight sat on the couch, walked around the boutique, examined Travelers gear and checked on Rarity. And this went for a hour...

Then the door opened. ''Ah! Hy Twilight. Is there really an alien here?'' Asked the baby dragon, who carried a lot of cloths.

''How do you know that?'' She asked, somewhat surprised. ''Maybe all the town knows about him.''

''Rainbow Dash told me.'' Spike said and the cyan pegasus flew inside and nodded.

''Where is he now?'' Asked Rainbow.

''He's having a bath. I haven't checked on him since a hour.'' She explained and pointed at a door, at the back of the boutique.

''Then let's see how he is!'' Rainbow said and flew to the door, Spike and Twilight soon following her.

''I don't know Rainbow, maybe he wants to just relax. He went trough a lot.'' Spoke up Twilight quietly. She didn't want to mention the deadly weapons.

But she had to, because Rainbow asked what happened. She didn't wanted to hold that secret from her friends, so she told everything. Spike was interested, but Rainbow was surprised.

''You must admit Twilight, traveling can be dangerous. Of course he has weapons.'' Rainbow Dash protected him.

''Yes, but he told us those things like it's nothing. Maybe he lied to us all the time and wants to hurt everypony!'' She exclaimed.

''I get this first impression from others a lot. Why don't you come inside Miss Sparkle and share your thoughts with me?'' Called Traveler from the other room.

Twilight was shocked and to make it better, Rainbow pushed her inside. Spike followed them, eager to see an alien.
Rainbow stopped Twilight next to the bath and grinned at the two. Spike watched in awe as Traveler ears stopped glowing in that purple aura.

''I was just-...'' She started, but he interrupted.

''I do not care about your excuse. Now I can say 'I'm not evil' and all that worthless speech, but no. I can prove that. So think what you want, lean back and wait what is going to happen!'' He said seriously to them.

''Wait! What is going to happen?'' Asked Rainbow, before he grabbed her and pulled her down to the ground. ''What the hay are you doi-...'' She stopped speaking as he threw the knife over her, out of the room and hitting something.

They all jumped away from him. ''That's how you want to prove that you're peaceful?!'' Shouted Twilight, as her horn started to glow.

''I would think that trough, if I were you...'' He said and with that, climbed out the bath.

While Spike found nothing too interesting on him, Rainbow blushed and tried to look away and Twilight had a hard time focusing on her magic. ''Wh- where are you going?'' Twilight asked.

''Have a look!'' He called from the other room, where he threw the knife. It was the same room, where the entrance door was.

The three friend hesitated to follow him, but after sharing a quick glance with each other, they looked into the room.
What they saw terrified them...

Traveler pulled out the knife from a creature that looked like a dragon. It's spike's were dark blue, sharp claws and had the same face structure like Traveler's. Blood covered it's face and a huge hole on it's forehead, where the knife hit it.

''Wha-... what is that thing?'' Twilight pointed a shaking hoof at the humanoid.

''It's a Follower. And there's probably more of them. They came for me.'' Traveler explained and walked back to the bath tub, where his boxer was. The three of them had no problem looking away from is third limb, because they just saw the most terrifying creature bleeding out.

Traveler in his boxer, now went to Rarity's room. The door opened just in front of him.

''You're clothes.'' Rarity said and Traveler grabbed his new, now perfect clothes.

''Ah! Spike, just in time. And Rainbow Dash. Good to see you too.'' Rarity saw their faces. ''Darlings, what is the problem?''

''The problem is the dead Follower in the middle of the boutique Miss Rarity. Don't worry, I'll take care of it.'' Traveler said, as he threw his robe over himself. He finished dressing up and has everything on him.

He heard a 'thud' behind himself. ''Take care of the sleeping drama queen while I go. Better if they follow me to the forest and not come here.''

He rushed outside the boutique. As he looked around, he could feel the Followers watching him. As he turned towards the forest, he started walking. Then this walking became faster, fast enough to call it jogging. He raised his right hand, pointing at the ground next to him. His horse emerged from the ground as his arm was flaming and started running faster.

As the Traveler and his horse ran next to each other, he jumped up in the air and landed on his horse. With one hand holding the straps on the horse, the other one was next to him, ready for the fight.

''I'm prepared and they should be too...'' He said.

Somepony, please... explain why I like claws so much! For some reason, I want a claw like weapon, not a big flank sword or a gun. NO! I want to maul people/ponies.
And don't take seriously those 'Followers'. I just came up with a name. I'm not talking about you dear Followers...