Warrior

We've been back in Ponyville for two days now and the news has finally come down from Canterlot about what happened there and that whole mess with Umbra and the nobility plotting a cue on the Princesses, of course everyone in this small town now knows I was involved in stopping what happened. Needless to say the girls that weren't there immediately started showering me with questions about what happened and who Rogue was as we all sat under a tree, all except Pinkie, she didn't ask anything, it was weird, kinda like she knew something. It took me a while but I eventually got through their questions only for the most unexpected thing to happen.

"Blake Winters?" A grizzled old male voice asked, getting closer. I turned to see who it was and the girls also look, and we see an old stallion wearing a military style uniform, he had graying brown fur and his mane and tail have all ready gone fully grey.

"Yes." I say looking over at the old stallion with a confused look.

"I am former Major Broadsword, and as of O'six hundred tomorrow, I will be your mentor in swordsmanship. I expect to see you out side town hall at 06:00 hours on the dot." The old stallion said before leaving. The girls started to mutter among themselves while I just watched the old coot walk away, I didn't know this was going to happen, but I guess a certain Princess might have something to do with this.

"What was that about?" Rainbow asked as she lazily flew over to me.

"You heard him, he's apparently here to teach me swordsmanship starting tomorrow." I say crossing my arms as I lean back against the tree while the girls sit on a pick nick blanket looking at me except for Twilight, she knew that I actually didn't know a thing about using a sword from when I met the Princesses a few days ago.

"Hold up, I thought you knew how to use a sword." Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow. To be honest I couldn't blame her for thinking that since I acted like I knew what I was doing before.

"I was just bluffing before, the truth is I've never even touched a sword before Dragonbane." I confessed and again the girls looked shocked.

"Really, you don't know how to use a sword?" Rarity asked and I ignored her as was the habit I'd taken to doing ever since she almost tore my arm off. Seriously, fuck that bitch, if I had to choose between a rash on my balls and saving her life, I'd take the rash any day.

"Why are you ignoring Rarity, Blake?" Fluttershy asked softly, and thank fully it wasn't a whisper when she spoke this time. I how ever said nothing and took my blue trench coat off and then rolled the left sleeve of my white t-shirt up and pointed at the scar on my shoulder with out saying anything before rolling the sleeve back down and putting my coat back on. "Oh right, I forgot about that." Fluttershy said turning away with an embarrassed blush.

"So, I guess your going to be a real Warrior starting tomorrow." Pinkie said with a mischievous look on her face, and I couldn't tell if it was because she wanted to pull a prank on me or something else.

"I guess." I said as I gave the pink mare a cautious glare.

"Well, at any rate your in good hands, Broadsword was Princess Celestia's personal body guard for over sixty years before he retired, and he's won countless competitions and titles for his skill with a sword." Twilight explained as she glanced in my direction before returning to a book she'd brought.

"And how do you know that old stallion Twi?" Applejack asked. I didn't care too much, but I guess I wanted to know as well.

"Broadsword was still Celestia's body guard when I became her student, so I've known him since I was a Philly.

"So, what if that old guy is good with a sword, I'll bet he's not as good at fighting as the Wonderbolts." Rainbow said in a cocky tone which annoyed everyone else except me, mainly because I have no idea who the Wonderbolts are.

"Actually, he's better than them with both hands behind his back, blindfolded." Twilight said matter of factually.

"SAY WHAT!" Rainbow shouted getting into Twilight's face.

"Who do you think trained them in combat?" Twilight asked calmly and Rainbow looked at a loss for words, which to be fair doesn't take much. I then stopped leaning on the tree and walked back to town. "Where are you going Blake?" Twilight asked.

"For a walk, I need to stretch my legs." I say as I keep walking. I don't have anything against hanging out with the girls or anything, but all their girl talk was putting me to sleep, maybe I can meet a few of the guys from around Ponyville and hang out with the guys. I spent better part of half an hour walking around town keeping an eye out for any stallions I might have some common interests with, it was wishful thinking, but I'd rather not be stuck with the mares all the time, just look at what it's done to Spike, he's a good guy and all, but when it comes to women or mares I guess he's a total blue pill beta male, and I'd like to have some friends that I can call the bros.

As I walked down one of the streets I couldn't help but notice that every pony who was going about their own business seemed to be more friendly than they were before what happened in Canterlot a few days ago, I guess the newspaper really did spread the news quick of how I helped save Princess Celestia from some nasty scheme before it happened. "Hey." A voice called out as a rather pathetic nerdy looking stallion walked over to me, jeez I know I said I wanted some guy friends to hang out with, but this isn't what I had in mind. "Hey your the human right?" he asked as he got closer and I really didn't have patience for this guy, it wasn't even his fault, his voice was just getting on my nerves.

"Yeah, I am." I say being very short with him.

"Oh my Celestia, Lyra was right, you really are human, no fur, no tail, small eyes, hair on top of the head, taller than the average pony, greater upper body musculature. You sir are a fine specimen." The pony said and I turned my back on him to walk away. "Stand offish, a clear behavioral trate linked to aggression, fascinating." The pony said getting on my nerves quickly as he followed me.

"FUCK OFF!!!" I shouted at the pony as I looked back at him and he backed off, good. I don't know what was up with that guy, but he really got on my nerves. After I took a breath to calm myself, I started walking the streets again until I ended up in the market, as I passed the stalls I noticed that there was a big red stallion with blond hair and tail wearing a red check shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots selling apples from the stand where Applejack usually sold apples, so that must be her brother Big Mackintosh, If I meet her little sister now, I would have more or less met the whole family. I might as well introduce myself, besides he might work as a guy friend, so I walked over to the stall.

"Howdy, can I interest you in some fine apples, Picked e'm fresh this morning myself." He said with a deep voice.

"So, your Applejack's brother right?" I ask.

"E'yup, that's right I'm Big Mackintosh Apple." He said with pride.

"I'm Blake Winters, I know your sister." I say back and he gives me a look of recognition.

"Blake? AJ has mentioned you a few times over the last week, it's good to put a face to the name." Big Mack said offering a hand for me to shake and I took it gladly, and let me tell you he has one strong shake, if Dragonbane wasn't giving me a passive strength boost, he might have crushed my hand.

"So, they have you, on the front lines to day?" I ask as we end owe hand shake.

"E'yup, it's AJ's day off and Apple Bloom is too young to work the stand." Big Mack explained.

"Cool, ...So, I'm kinda new around here, do you know where a guy can chill with other guys?" I ask and he gives me a thoughtful look for a moment before smiling.

"E'yup, I sure do, there's a place I know where a few of the stallions go every now and then to get away from the mares." Big Mack said crossing his arms. "I'll show you some time." He said and I nodded.

"Thanks, I'm starting to feel a little choked being around mares all the time." I say taking Mack up on his offer.

"Just let me know when your ready, and I'll show you the spot as long as I'm not working." Big Mack said.

"I will." I said, and then I left him to his work, as I kept walking through the streets I noticed a record shop and decided to check it out, I'd never been in a record shop before but I had to say this one was pretty lit, gold records hung from the back wall by the till along side guitars, drum sets were in the window and there were thousands of vinyl records to choose from, not to mention that the whole shop had an upbeat and energetic song playing in the back round. It was pretty cool in the shop and I took my time to look around, I didn't recognize any of the artists or bands, but I'm sure they can't be that bad.

"Found something you like, or are you looking for something more... collectible?" A female voice asked from behind me. I turned around and my jaw almost dropped at the sight of a mare that looked like a Rule 63'd Shining Armour wearing a sleeveless black crop top vest with blue ascents and jean short shorts with black boots and fishnet stockings.

"I'm just looking for now." I said, if I didn't know Twilight was Shining's sister I might have thought this mare was his twin or something, I mean seriously the resemblance is uncanny.

"Well, just let me know if you need anything." She said giving me a wink from under her sunglasses as she went behind the register. Ok, I'm not blind, what is it with mares always blushing, winking and blowing kisses at me, they can't actually be interested in me, can they. I think I'm just going to go back to my room at the library, before anymore mares make a pass at me. Besides, I have an early start to morrow, and I'd rather not be groggy tomorrow.