ponyville a couple days later
The last few days have been kinda boring for rex. Not that it was a bad thing. He ended spending most of his time helping the girls run errands for the dreaded talent show. He was with applejack at the moment as he helped put the finishing touches on the stage.

The stage was just outside ponyville but had plenty of seating for everyone. He was suprised how quickly the 8 of them got things set up. The 8 being the main 6 himself and spike. He whipe the sweat from his brow when applejack spoke up. "So sugercube did you decide what yer doin yet?" Her question was a familiar one. The last couple days since they decided they were doing a talent show has been filled with the same damn question.
"Yes" he responded rather hesitately.

"Gonna tell me sugercube?" He simply gave her a deadpan stare. She crossed her forelegs. She knew he wouldn't tell her. Truth was she was sure if he had the chance he would ditch the entire show. The only thing stopping him was the fact that at least 3 ponies could now teliport him back. 4 if we count rairty.

He quickly stood up and started making his way to the backstage area. He made no effort to talk to anyone else now. This didn't go unnoticed. Especially by pinkie who immediately took a seat next to him. They sat there for awhile. Rex was honestly suprised pinkie hadn't said a word to him. She happily greeted other contestants who arrived but still hadn't even addressed the human next to her. It took him awhile to realize but she was completely ignoring him. Since he met pinkie she never failed to greet him before. Now she was refusing to look at him.

He move his head to look at her an she clearly turned away. "Uh pinkie are you mad at me?" He quietly asked the question completely unsure of what he was doin. Pinkie then looked ahead still not facing him.
Her awnsering being a very quick.
"Yes."

He stared at the side of her head a loss for words. "But why? I didn't do anything!" She then finally looked at him with a frown. The sight felt like a hit to the gut.

"Because your mad. Your my freind and if your upset so am I." He blinked rapidly for a moment. Her flawless obviously lost on him.
He took a moment to think. Then responded.

"Ok so if I want you to not be mad at me for being mad then? what do you want something?" She made a bigger and sillyer frown. It was honestly kinda cute. Really cute it was like a kitten trying to play angry.

"If you want me to stop being angry then tell me. Whats wrong! Whats got you more sour then normal?" Rex sighed at her comment. He thought about just ignoring her since that should be easy enough. But he didn't wan't to. He knew these girls were growing on him.

As her mane started to deflate he relented. "Because I don't really wanna show off my talent." His response was short but his words carried a weight that made pinkie flinch. She then moved her hoof to his hand nudging it slightly. She didn't say a word. Which was weird for Pinkie. But despite not speaking he knew she wanted more.

"When I was a kid I used to sing a lot. Wanted to do it for a living. But things didn't go that way. I gave up on that path a long time ago."
She laid her head on his arm. Her natural warmth radiating into him. It was pleasant.

"So why not just do something else rexy? I understand if you dont wan't to sing but you must have something you wanna do." He just sighed an shook his head no. In truth he hadn't really picked up that many skills over the years.

He only learned a a few skills related to his jobs. Waiting tables an such. "No I don't really. Honestly its this or nothing pinks."
He sighed as the pink mare held his arm in her hooves. He looked forward as ponies made Their way to the stage. He could hear most of them getting applause.

Pinkie thought to herself for a moment. She wanted to help her favorite human. Then a thought came to her. "Hey rexy what are you gonna sing?" Her question hung in the air for a second. The truth was he hadn't really thought this far ahead. His silence made her giggle. "Well? Dont leave me in suspense silly."

He honestly didn't know how to awnser. "I Don't know pinkie. I know alot of songs but nothing really fits." He sighed as pinkie gently taps his arm. She had an infections simile

"Well whatever you do I know it will be great. Just sing from your heart." Her name was then called to appear on stage. She quickly gave him a hug before suddenly giving him a peck on the cheek. By some miracle he didn't slap her. She walked away as he stared.

"Fucking ponies." His tone had a large degree of annoyance. But his face had a small smile. These girls were something else. Soon his name was called as he stepped onto the stage.

The entire town had gathered. Above them in a low hanging cloud was celestia an luna. He swore he saw the former stuffing her face with popcorn. In the front row were the main six. His eyes lingers on them. He takes in a gulp of air as he started to sweat. He hasn't sung in public in years. He grabbed the mic an started his song. His sword glowing slight as he did.

"living life every day.
late at night not okay. All I want and I pray all I need are some better days"

His blade began to glow slightly brighter pulsing with color. Pink,blue,orange,yellow,white,then violet.
The girls found they couldn't remove their eyes from it.

"buck me!
Im looking the mirrior. So foggy but ive never seen clearer. I dont think anyone can save me and honestly im not really sure I want savin."

The sword would shine brighter drawing Rex's attention. Without stopping his flow he lifted the blade. He saw his reflection looking back at himself. He frowned just slightly. It was still him. Despite everything just him.

"I like to be my own worst enemy. There's no risk if you don't try at anything. So ima just get by in everything. See you in the next life, hope to be a better me. I don'tthin that my heads on straight. Gotta flip it an grip it and go and get an x ray."

The crowd watched in silence as the sword seem to vibrate. As it moved in his grip light seemed to pour out dacing as misty light in the air around him.

"whats wrong with me?i just feel weight, pushing on my chest and squeeze it till I suffocate. Better change my mindset mediate. Its pretty cool that im alive and have better days. I can walk, see ,hear i should Celebrate! Think I should change my mind mabye elevate."

His frown slowly shifted to a smirk as he saw the sword reflecting the past few day to him. He looked happier. Truth was right now he didn't care about going home to a lifeless job. He had friends for the first time in a long time. He repeated the beginning chorus.

The crowd gave out gasps as he waved his blade for a second. The lights continuing to shoot out. He couldn't help it. He felt good. He even added some hand movement to his performance.

"Yeah im kinda stuck betweena rock and a hard place. Do i work hard? Or live at my pace?you're only young once! Yeah thats all great! But I also want a future were im okay! living life is living on that high train. No wait! Its sleeping in on sundays! No wait! Its living with no shame! Well i guess it's different for each of us and thats okay."

His eyes drifted to the mare in front of them. They looked excited. Even fluttershy was smiling brightly. No embarrassment, no holding back. Just smiles and cheers for a freind.

"Well I just wanna be happy! How to get there hmm? Glad that you asked me. I think its different for each of us. Some of of us need work, others need fun! Some of us need purpose to over come! But try to do what you love when its said an done. Cause theres so many differences in each of us. Trust your heart it can show you what you want."

He lifted his sword high as he gestured to the crowd. He purposely changed the lyric from gut to heart as his eyes landed right on pinkie. She blushed heavily. But then he smiled. Not a small smirk or a small grin. A true smile. Not even his resting bitch face could hide it. He looked at the girls. Each of them reason to keep going.

He reapeated the chorus one last time as the lights faded back into the blade. The crowd bursted into Cheers. Rex slowly lowered his blade and went back stage. It was celestia herself who raises her hoof to calm the crowd.

"Well my little ponies it seems we have a winner! The reward is a hundred bits and seven express tickets to the Crystal empires special hearts an hooves days celebration!" The crowd continued there cheers as luna gave her sister the bombastic side eye.

"Sister thats over three months away. And seven tickets your being a little on the noise dear sister." Her comment was quiet enough that only celestia heard. The princesses of the sun just looked way smiling. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Sometime later.

"You can't be serious he allready went home!" Rainbow dash cried out as twilight informed them the news. The cyan pegasus was annoyed as the group wanted to treat the human.

"Im afraid so rainbow dash. Rex said his 'social battery was drained.' Well have to treat him tomorrow after the princesses start their training." The girls groaned disappointed. Well strangely everyone besides pinkie who had a love sick smile on her face.

"Uh sugercube? You ok?" Applejack gently tapped her freind who slowly nodded. Her mind was still on rexs smile. His joy,his expression, his exposed teeth. It was perhaps the greatest smile shes ever seen. In her eyes.

"His simile is dreamy~" rairty spat out her drink as all the girls got a large blush on their faces. Sure they weren't into his simle like pinkie was. But they also had to admit. They really loved seeing him happy.
With rex

The girls quickly decided to head home. As they did rex started to fall asleep in bed. His thoughts still with the girls. The things he liked most about them echoed in his mind.vPinkies laugh,twilights look of awe at new information, rairtys look of excitement when she starts to work. The look rainbow gives when shes ready to race and Applejacks voice. He hasn't felt his head stir like this in a long time.

But then a familiar ache in his heart formed. A pain he couldn't shake. Memories he'd rather not think of now. He wanted to keep his ponies on his mind yet now all of his thoughts drifted to ....her. He swore as he turned in his rest.

Tears dripped down his face as he fell into the realm of luna. Only this time luna was here......"wait what?"

Author's Note

Im really proud of this one. The song is better days by neffex. Their music is copyright free so im probably gonna use them whenever i need music. Sorry if some of the lyrics are wrong.

Also if your wondering who her is you'll see in the future. But this the end of arc 1
Meeting the ponies an establishing freinship.

Next up is love pain an probably more pain.