Innocentius woke up the next morning before hesitantly going downstairs to join his mother and father for breakfast. He had been dreading this moment for the last couple of days or so. Now that all his business with Celestia was out of the way, it was time for his parents to drop questions of their own onto him. He slowly made his way into the dining room where his mother had just sat out a plate of his favorite pecan waffles and a tall glass of ice cold milk. He smiled awkwardly at them both, seeing his father sitting at his spot at the table with a paper and coffee in hand.

As he sat down, there was a long silence before his mother smiled warmly to her son and leaned down, and gently kissed him on the forehead before heading back to prepare her husband’s food. He looked between her and his father before his father caught him staring “Everything alright, kiddo?” he asked with a warm smile on his muzzle before sipping his coffee. Innocentius blinked a few times before speaking up “I mean…I figured you two would be hitting me with questions about how I am still alive from the ordeal the other night..and what exactly the princess and I discussed.” he said as he hesitantly took a drink of his milk.

His parents looked at each other before his father shrugged “Honestly? We were shocked at first. But then again, you have never really been a normal kid have you?” he asked before reaching over and ruffling his son’s mane. “We aren’t going to press you for what’s going on in your life, sweetie. We will either find out eventually, or you will tell us when you are ready. Your father was the exact same way at your age after all~.” she said as she playfully hip bumped him as she walked by to get something from one of the cabinets. “Well yeah, what colt doesn’t want to tell their parents what’s going on in their life? Especially our boy. I could understand why he’d want to keep such things under wraps!” he retorted to his wife.

Innocentius just sat there, completely floored at how blahzay they were to the whole situation. It's not that they didn’t care, far from it in fact. They had just figured that their son was quite a different colt was all. And they were totally fine with it. “Soooo…you are absolutely cool with me and how I am then..?” he asked with an arched brow. “Totally cool with it.” they both responded with a nod. “You are our baby boy, Innocentius. We love and support you all the way.” his mother said before wrapping a free arm around him from behind and giving him the biggest hug.

It seemed that he had absolutely nothing to worry about from his family at least. This was a huge relief as he dug into his breakfast, his appetite returning full force now that his worries were lessened a bit more. The question is: How would his friends react? Surely there were rumors floating about town. And his most recent friend Redheart saw the whole thing unfold before her very eyes. Would she see him as someone strange to keep her distance? Not that he’d blame her. He was just happy that she and her mother no longer had to fear for their lives anymore.

After having eaten his food and hugging his mother while thanking her for the food, he heads back to his room and gets dressed for the day. He had decided that he would improve his mind, body, and magic for his abilities and improve on those as well. Because what if there was a time when he might actually need them? It may not be today, it may not be ten years from now. But he figured it would be good to condition himself. After all, a healthy mind and body could only do him good as he got older, right?

He makes his way outside, closing the front door behind him as he looks over at Redheart’s house which seems to have the curtains drawn over all the windows. Innocentius wasn’t going to jump to any conclusions yet. She and her mother may have both just been out doing daily things. He simply shakes his head to bring himself to focus on his new goal, get stronger, and get in shape. And no better place to do that than in the Everfree Forest away from prying eyes.

While in the forest, the colt did all matters of training. He found a nice quiet spot to meditate and work on focusing his magic by expending it as much as he could, then resting, then doing the same thing again after the small break. He figured the amount of magic one could use was like a reservoir. The more it is used, the bigger that reservoir can get. At least, that was his theory anyway. Who knew how magic worked in this world after all.

After a couple of hours of working on his magic capacity, he actually works on the healing magic itself so that it doesn’t tax him as much as it did. He went around in the first seeking damaged trees. He’d place his hand upon the trunk of it before closing his eyes and focusing as hard as he could. The trees would then become a lighter shade and even have leaves and flowers blooming right away as he pumped some healing goodness into the wood. He kept up this process for as long as he could until it was time to move on to his giant form training.

Innocentius would venture a little further into the forest where there would be taller trees. He’d find a nice roomy opening he could use before sighing and looking down at his clothing “I know the chances are slim that someone could come out here and find me. But, that means there is still a chance regardless. I really need to invest in some size shifting clothes…” he said to himself before he striped down into nothing but his flesh and fur. After which he places his neatly folded clothing on a nearby rock and focuses. Soon enough, his body grows to a full thirty feet tall, which he could feel straining on him a bit.

He plops down in the middle of the opening and crosses his legs before lowering his head “Think. Big. Think big, think big, think big.” he mumbled to himself as a form of mantra as he focused on maintaining this size for as long as he could. He did wonder though…would his size double when he was an adult? After about an hour, his body couldn’t take any more before it began shrinking back down to its normal size, the colt falling back into his back as he lay there in the tall grass panting slightly “And to think….I am going to be doing this and alternating days to go to the gym…” he said as he began to doze off a bit. The sun rays and the soft grass felt so nice on his body, especially after a solid five hours of training. He didn’t even realize he was falling asleep until it was too late.

Innocentius slowly opened his eyes as he woke up from his little nap. He stood up and made his way over to his folded clothing and got dressed “Alright, one more thing to practice with and I am heading back home..” he said as he walked over to a rather large boulder and removed his glasses. He opened his eyes as they began to glow gold before the two beams fired from them as they embedded themselves into the rock. Innocentius maintained full control for as long as he could before the strain started getting to him, the glow flickering out as he blinked a few times before rubbing his eyes with one of his forearms. It's a good thing that he didn’t have to worry about school for the next couple of months. Or else he’d be completely wiped out every day.

Once he had taken a break after getting dressed, he’d find his way back out of the forest and head straight for the town gym. It wasn’t anything fancy. Ponies could come and go as they pleased for a small fee a month and there were a few personal trainers that would work with you for a little extra money. Innocentius looked towards the sign on the window which read ‘Beginner’s Special Happening Now! Buy Your First Month, Get The Next Free!!’. He reached into his pocket and felt around for his wallet. He had it with him thankfully. But he only had one hundred bits, and that was collected over two months of doing chores and getting lucky and finding a few pieces on the streets.

He sighed as he was trying to save up for some new medical tools he had been wanting for a while now. But the young stallion had a goal and a full summer ahead of him. And he was determined to reach that goal. He walked into the building, the bell jingling as the top of the door hit it when swung open. He looked left to right as he walked in, a nervous shiver going up his spine before he walked up to the counter where a rather fit looking young mare sat looking bored. Innocentius cleared his throat, getting the mare’s attention “Hmm? Oh, hey there kiddo. Whatcha need?” the the dark blue fur and golden mane and tail mare asked as she leaned over the counter to get a good look at the colt.

“Yes, ma’am. I am looking to join up and get into shape. I figured I had a full summer to put some meat on my body. And I saw you are having a special. Or..am I too young?” he asked as he shifted on his hooves a bit. The mare studied Innocentius for a moment before smiling widely “You are never too young to start workin’ out, kiddo. But before you spend your hard earned money, would you like a tour of the place? I can show you all the facilities we have at your possible disposal.”. Innocentius would nod a few times in response. The mare nodded back before getting up “Follow me then~.” she said as she led the way.

It was just like any gym Innocentius had seen in his past life when he had physical therapy. Sure, the weights, treadmills, and all the other exercise equipment weren’t state of the art, but it would get him where he needed to go and he was fine with that. The place was bigger than it let on however, as it not only had the standard exercising equipment, but it had a male and female separate locker room, a sauna, and an olympic sized swimming pool. After she finished showing him all they had, they headed back to the front and began talking about his membership.

“So, whatcha think, hon? You wanna put in the work?” she asked as she sat back down in her chair. Innocentius grabbed his wallet and looked down at it before up at her “How much am I handing off to you?” he asked as he opened it up. “Membership will run you about fifteen bits a month. But since you are joining during our special, you don’t have to worry about next month’s payment. So you are gettin’ a pretty sweet deal.” she said as she pulled up the paperwork. Fifteen bits a month?! That was an amazing deal, especially with what they offered for use! Even more so when he looked around the gym on the tour, it was surprisingly clean. Looks like those medical tools aren’t too far off after all.

“Alright then, sounds like a pretty good deal, indeed. Here you are then,” he said as he pulled out the required money for the transaction. The mare smiled once more and took the money before sliding him the paperwork “You need any help fillin it out?” she asked as she was happy to see someone so young wanting to get into shape. As he read through the fine print, he noticed that the sauna was co-ed. Now he knew why the room had see-through glass walls. Not only to make sure that they were kept an eye on so that they could stay safe but who knows what might go on in there if stallions and mares can go in there at the same time! It still didn’t help his young male anxiety though.

After he had finished signing his name, the mare took his paper and stamped it before placing it in the file drawer under the table and handing him an ID card that he then promptly put in his wallet. Will you be beginning today, hon?” she asked as she then noticed that he was rather spent already and his clothes had a bit of dirt on them “...Or not. It looks like you have already had some sort of workout today judging by your appearance. You gonna be alright?” she asked as she continued to look him over. He nodded “Yeah, I am fine. I mainly came here today to just join up. Let’s just say I am alternating my own personal workout and the one I will be putting in here. With a few days to myself of course. While I don’t have many friends, I do have some. Thank you again for showing me around and getting me set up ma’am.” he said with a bow of his head.

“So polite~. You are very welcome. Hope to see you back here tomorrow>” she said as she waved to him as he left. She didn’t mention it, but she actually knew who he was the whole time. After all, her primary doctor told her about him all the time when she visited for a physical. “So, that is Innocentius. Adorable little guy. He is gonna be quite handsome as he gets older if he sticks with it though. “ she said as she giggled to herself before getting bored again, resting her chin on her hand as she flipped through a magazine she had resting next to her.

By the time he had got home, it was nearly nightfall. And he was absolutely worn out from such a busy day. He’d have dinner, get a nice hot bubble bath, and get changed into his usual pajama bottoms and a plain black t-shirt before heading out on the roof with one of his books he’d resume reading. At the same time, he was also hoping that Redheart might see him and join him as well. He really wanted to speak with her and make sure that they were still cool. But, he could understand if that wasn’t the case.

After a couple hours of lounging on the roof, and no sign of movement coming from her window, he gave a sigh of defeat and closed his book before heading in for the night. He was just about to slip into his window before he heard the sound of a window opening up behind him, and the sound of hooves clanking on a rooftop. He turned to see Redheart staring at him with wide worried eyes as she held a hand up toward him. He lifted a hand up as well and gave a hesitant wave. In return.

She motioned him over after what felt like forever as they stared at one another. Innocentius nodded before drifting over to her home and landing next to her. She stared up at him for a moment before getting to her hooves, slowly approaching him at first before colliding with him, nearly sending them sliding down, but he was able to stabilize both their footing. Redheart wrapped her friend up in a big hug as her tail started swaying ninety miles an hour “You really are alive…thank Celestia you are alive! She whispered excitedly as she held onto him as tight as she could.

Innocentius held his arms out slightly before slowly embracing her in return. She was really worried about him it seemed as if she was shaking when she embraced him in that hug. The colt brought a hand up to the top of her head and nodded “Yeah…I am tougher than I look apparently…” he said as he stroked her mane in a comforting manner “Listen, if you have the time, I need to tell you a few things. And if I don’t do it now, it might cause some trouble down the road for you. Let’s sit.” he said as he sat her down next to him.

Over the next few hours, he’d tell her everything. About his abilities, his healing magic, everything but how he was reincarnated into this world. He figured she may be too young to understand that yet, but he’d tell her eventually should they remain friends further down the road. The filly didn’t even interrupt him as he spoke, she simply leaned in against him and listened. It didn’t matter to her, she was just happy that they would get to spend nights like this again from now on and not have to fear her or her mother being abused again. She felt like she owed her life to him, and that was enough.

Author's Note

Here ya go guys, another one for ya. I am trying to be better about describing his day to day activities. I don't know if you all really want that kind of filler stuff. But trying to branch out from the..I guess you could call it the 'main path' of the story a bit better?" xD

May the darkness grant you peace.