A trip to the land where equines rule.

Chapters

Chapter 1: Down the Well and Into Equestia.
Chapter 2: Welcome to Ponyville???!!??
Chapter 3: New Clothes, Parties, and Races. What the hell is going on???
Chapter 5: Imprisonment, Escape, Going home, An Audience with Princess Luna, and an offer of Magic Lessons???
Chapter 4: A little bit of Magic, A whole lot of whole lot of chaos, a royal summons and a treacherous trial

Chapter 1: Down the Well and Into Equestia.

I slowly followed the two Pegasus ponies wearing golden armor down a long hallway with my arms bound tightly behind my back and my mouth gagged. I wondered how it all came to this. Was it when I got into the fight with the dragon? When that weird figure clouded in black smoke, walked up and offered to help me get home? Maybe it was when I ended up falling off the roof of apple acres farm and nearly smashed their wagon? Wait I know when it was, it was when I arrived in Equestria. Wait, wait, wait, I guess I should start at the beginning. So I guess I just covered a few huge events, but you can’t really know which of them, the beginning was. I guess I should go back to the day before I ended up in Equestria. Which was, oh crap, I can’t believe I’ve been here that long. Anyway I guess I should really start at the beginning.

It all started at the beginning of fall in a little town called Mera Arkansas. My friend Zero and I were relaxing out at my place on the edge of town listening to music and letting our minds wander. Zero seemed to be thinking about how when everyone else needed cheering up he was there, when he needed cheering up no one was there. I meanwhile was thinking about the fact that reality seemed to be fucked up like nothing else. Eventually I sighed and said “We should go do something.” He looked at me questioningly and I said “Why don’t we go for a walk into the woods or something, I mean I’m bored as hell from sitting here.”

Zero thought about it for a bit then nodded and the two of us got up. I looked into the woods and smiled as I saw the leaves on the trees had already started to change color slightly. The two of us started walking along a path I’d cut through the brush behind my house and just walked along, letting our minds settle and our feet take us wherever they would. We walked for about ten minutes when Zero glanced at me and asked “Ever feel like reality just loves to be a bitch. And it does it even more so when you’re feeling like shit?” I raised an eyebrow wondering what had brought this particular wave of thought on.

I shrugged and replied “I’ve always felt that way. Just ask Shorty if you don’t believe me.” He nodded and the two of us walked on in a companionable silence for a bit. Eventually though Zero noticed a path off to the side and whistled to get my attention. I followed his eyes and grinned then asked him “You want to check it out?” He nodded and we started racing down the path, no more words needing to be spoken, the only thing we needed was a chance to find out what was at the end of this path. We slowed down after about fifteen minutes, and continued at a light jog. After another ten minutes of jogging we started walking occasionally seeing paths that branched off from the one we were on. They weren’t as well worn down as this one though, so we figured that they probably hadn’t been travelled all that often.

Then again this one was slightly overgrown, so we knew it had been years since any of these paths had been used. After a while we both stopped at the base of a large oak tree and Zero glanced around while I pulled a pack of gum out of my pocket and started chewing a piece. I’d recently quit smoking, so the gum made up for that slight niggling feeling of nicotine want in my brain. I knew it was just a want and not a need, which was ten percent of the battle, though the only reason I’d started smoking in the first place was because I needed something to help with stress. When I realized it really didn’t even work for that I’d quit. I glanced at Zero who had pulled out a notebook and started sketching a tall figure clothed in black.

I studied the drawing and said “You forgot the tentacles.” He looked at me then shrugged and said “This is how most people see him at first. The tentacles are something he only shows us and others that go after him.” I slowly nodded then went back to studying the forest as he drew. About ten minutes later, maybe fifteen, he glanced at me and motioned that we should continue walking. I nodded and the two of us started down the path again wondering where the fuck it stopped. We walked for another half hour, with the sky already turning dark, before we found an old abandoned farm. I blinked as I studied the sign on it while Dustin walked around looking at the gate and everything else. Eventually Zero walked up and asked “What’s so obsession worthy about the sign?”

I pointed at it and he followed my eyes then we both read aloud “Apple Acres farm, the best place on earth to find fresh apples at just about any time during the year.” Zero laughed and I just shook my head wondering who or what was the owner of Apple Acres. Zero and I started exploring, noticing that there was still the occasional apple tree mixed in with all the other trees around the farm. I mumbled softly “Who the hell would own a place way out here in the national forest?” Meanwhile Zero was laughing and going “Why does this place make me think of that kid show my baby sister always watches.”

I shrugged and said “Probably because of the acres of apple trees that the dang horses tend to.” He raised an eyebrow and said “Thought you had no problem with my little pony.” I shrugged and replied “Not a bad show, but right now I don’t want to think about television, more interested in finding out what happened to this place. Things like why it shut down, who ran it, etc.” He slowly nodded and we split up to explore the place. Zero went around checking out the barns and what not while I explored the house. I went through the cupboards and only found some old utensils that hadn’t been used in over twenty years, and a few rusty pipes that looked like they connected back to a well.

I sighed and closed the cupboards then stepped back and walked back to the living room where an old whicker rocker was sitting. I studied it and wondered how it had survived so long then ran my fingers along it and smiled as I caught the slight scent of apples on the wood. I smiled to myself and started up a staircase at the back of the room glancing around at the wall and down the banister as I ascended it. I smiled at a few old fashioned portraits of a couple standing in front of several orchards of apples. I smiled slightly and studied the picture a bit longer then continued upstairs until I got into a long hallway with about three doors on both sides, and a window that looked out the back of the house.

I slowly opened the first door to my right and blinked as I saw it just contained a student’s desk and a bed. There were a few pictures on the wall, and the closet was half open revealing that it was rather extensive, but otherwise the room was completely empty. I sighed and opened the room across the hall to find a bedroom full of furniture, but most of it was in disrepair, and obviously had no clues. I moved on to check the next two doors and found empty rooms that looked like they used to hold something important. I then opened the last two. In the first one was a simple pendant carved in the shape of a horse sitting on a table. I took it and slipped it around my neck figuring I may as well keep it since no one else was going to be coming for it anytime soon.

Then I opened the last door which had a simple writing desk with a quill, ink, and a piece of paper that looked like it would crumble at the touch. I walked over and glanced down, then started reading it. It told of how the family was leaving the farm because of strange sounds from the woods, and the loss of their daughter. She’d gone wandering in the woods one day and never came back. The family had gone looking for her all over, but they never found any sign of her. The only clue they had was she kept talking about visiting a land of magical horses in her dreams. So they assumed she ran off to marry a horse rancher without telling anyone. I had a feeling there was more to the story, but that was the last thing anyone had written before leaving the house.

I sighed and walked back out front where Zero was leaning on the entrance waiting for me. I walked up and said softly “The family left after their daughter went missing.” He looked at me questioningly and I said “No. I don’t think it was that one; she kept talking about magical horses so they think she ran off to join a neighboring horse ranch or something. I honestly don’t know why she ran away though. I just get the feeling, that her dreams had something to do with it all.” He nodded and said simply “Nothing much to the farm. A few pipes that lead off down a deserted road, bout it. Everything else is in disrepair; it’s kind of weird that the pipes would last this long though.” I nodded and asked “Think you can lead me to the well?” He snorted and said “Sure, follow me.”

He led me to an old deserted path then the two of us started following along it. I noticed the occasional pipe sticking up out of the road along the way, but other than that, it was almost as if the road was untouchable. No plants grew on it, the trees stayed a few feet back from it, and it almost look as if there was an invisible fence line keeping their roots from going any closer than five feet from the road. I studied the trees and noticed they were all apple trees, yet none seemed to have lost any of their leaves. I mentioned it to Zero and he said “You’d know better than I would. This place gives off an aura of peace, yet it’s so alien to where we come from. I wonder why?”

I shrugged in response and said “I was more focused on the shape of the trees than their aura. Maybe it’s just this place in general. Though if I’m right this is probably where that family’s daughter ran off to. I wonder why?” Zero shrugged and we kept walking until we saw an old fashioned stone well with a simple winch on it. I ran over and stared down into it then whistled softly. Zero walked up and said simply “Wow.” The interior of the well seemed to be bottomless. I didn’t know where the family was getting their water from, but they sure as heck must have drilled deep to get it. I silently wondered if their little girl may have fallen down then tried reaching across the top to grab onto the rope hanging out over the middle.

Zero looked at me and asked “Jake, what are you doing?” I shrugged and said “trying to get the rope unwound and see if the bucket it’s bottom. He glanced at the pulley system that held the bucket up and saw it was slightly cracked then sighed and said “Be careful, I really don’t’ want to have to go to the hospital today.” I nodded in response then suddenly felt two opposing forces on either side of me. One seemed to be trying to pull me from the pony necklace around my neck, and the other seemed to be pushing me, like a strong wind. I glanced at Zero, but he seemed to be unaffected as I jumped forward and grabbed onto the beam supporting the bucket and felt it crack under my weight.

I stared at it a few seconds then smiled at Zero and said “Looks like I’m going for a trip, guess I’ll see you next fall, if I’m out of the hospital by then.” He stared at me slightly lost then heard the beams creaking and said “Jake get the hell off there?” I snorted and said “I wish I could but it feels like gravity won’t let my legs move and I’m starting to lose my grip.” I unwound the bucket quickly and let it drop. Zero and I waited a few seconds but we didn’t hear the thud of it hitting the ground, or splash of it hitting water. Zero stared at me and said “You can’t possibly think you’ll survive a fall that far.” I smiled and said “We’ll see, since I have no other options really I guess we’ll have to see if I survive.” He sighed and said “Damn it Jake. I hope you don’t die, so I can kick your ass when you get out of the hospital.” I snorted and mumbled “I’m not worried about death; I’m worried about being paralyzed.”

Zero didn’t catch what I said and just looked down into the hole then said “Wish it wasn’t so dark after about ten feet down. Also, hope there’s a lot of water down there.” I nodded in response and said softly “You’re not the only one, just going to have to trust that my luck holds out when I fall.” Zero nodded as he heard me say that then gave me a thumbs up and said “Good luck, bro.” I nodded and slowly started to let go as the wood creaked starting to give way underneath my weight. As I started to let go I heard a soft voice say “It’s alright, you just have to let go.” I slowly shook my head and said softly “I’m going to fall anyway, so why do I need to let go?”

The voice let out a very soft sigh of sorrow and said “If you don’t let go the portal cannot open fully. If the portal doesn’t open fully, you will be stuck falling in darkness for the rest of time.” I blinked and mumbled “Oh, that’s enough reason to let go, hope you’re not fucking with me, whoever you are.” The voice laughed softly and said “I’m not trying to lie to you; if you don’t allow yourself to pass through the portal it will remain closed to you.” I sighed then let go with a smile at Dustin and a simple saying of “Leap of Faith, bro.” I slowly fell into the darkness, and as I got farther from the light the voice started to seem louder, and more defined. The voice said softly “Three things I can help you with, 1. Remember the lady of night is your ally no matter what you think, 2. The light at the end of the day will always guide you true, and 3. Never trust the one wearing darkness as a cloak, for he is out to rule all.”

I nodded at each one then asked “How will I know who these people are?” She smiled and said softly “You’ll know them when you see them, also always keep that pendant on you. It’s the only way I may contact you, and you may return home. The queen of the sun will doubt you, and your path will never be as it began, but you must prove your worth to all. When you’ve done that you may make a decision on your final path, and possibly return home. For now another realm needs your help, hero of shadows.” I blinked wondering what the hell it meant by hero of shadows. The voice started to fade as everything got lighter and the last words it whispered were “Beware the mist of darkness and blood, for it will try to destroy all, and always lead you astray.”

As the last bit of the voice’s words faded away, I found myself falling through the air into a well-lit, bright and cheery place. The colors were more vibrant than back where I’d come from, the clouds seemed to be fluffier, even the air smelled fresher. I glanced around and mumbled “Where the hell am I?” After a few seconds I realized I was still falling, so I looked down and let out a soft whistle. I was a good thousand feet up from the ground, and it looked like it was coming up fast. I sighed and mumbled “Yay, fall forever, or hit the ground and die, wonderful choices lady.” Suddenly I felt something grab hold of my shirt and heard someone say “Gee you sure are heavy.” However it was kind of muffled so it came out more like “Gee you sur ah heafy.”

I glanced up then sighed and said “I’ve got to be hallucinating.” Because holding onto my shirt, and thereby me, was a Pegasus. It was about the size of a normal horse, with long spread out wings, which were flapping like mad to keep us both aloft, a deep dark red coloring of its hair, a light red mane and tail with blonde tips, and had light blue eyes that glowed with an inner light of mischief. He grumbled out around my shirt “How the hell does someone who looks so thin, weigh so much?” I shrugged then blinked as he suddenly let go of my shirt and hooked his hooves under my shoulders. He glanced up at the sun and said “Crap, saving you is going to make me late. I think I’ll just drop you off at Sweet Apple Acres, and let the apple family deal with you.”

I blinked then glanced up at him and said “Right, well since you’re so polite and cordial about saving my life I guess I should tell you my name.” in such a sarcastic tone he nearly dropped me. He smirked and said “No, no, let me go first. The name’s Blaze, wings. Brother to Heavenly wings, and cousin to Jack mule. All of which are a bit more polite than you, so who are you?” I laughed at his trying to outdo me in sarcasm and said “Jake Wolf.” He snorted and said “Nice to meet you, now you mind telling me what the heck you were doing above the clouds?” I smiled politely, trying to be innocent and said “Oh you know, just thought I’d drop in and see how the locals were.”

He smirked as we passed the sign for sweet apple acres and said “You know what that’s a good idea. I might just DROP you off at Sweet apple acres.” I stared at him and said softly “You wouldn’t bloody dare.” He smirked and said “Oh yes I would, you just don’t know me that well if you think I wouldn’t.” Suddenly he flew over a hay pile and dropped me saying “I’ll probably see you before next fall, so try to be a good sport when the apple family finds you,” before flying off with a laugh. I fell through the air then landed in the hay and sunk right to the bottom of the pile. I laid there a while then slowly pull myself out and took a deep breath of fresh air.

As I breathed in I felt something hit me in the back of the head and everything started to go dark. I sighed and thought “God damn it, today just isn’t my day,” before I heard someone riding up. I heard the voices of multiple people talking about the bump on my head, and how I was so different from everyone else then felt someone grab hold of my shirt and start dragging me. As I was dragged I thought back to when I was a kid and had been in a similar situation. However at that time my horse was dragging me through cactus, thorn bushes, and over rocks because I wasn’t smart enough to let go of his reins when he ran out from under me. I started to slip into unconsciousness as the voices started talking about getting a doctor, and the local librarian.

Chapter 2: Welcome to Ponyville???!!??

I don’t know how long I was out cold, but when I came to I found myself lying in a bed in the middle of a large room. I slowly sat up and looked around the room feeling a dull throb in the back of my head. I sighed and mumbled “Last time I jump down a strange well, while assuming nothing’s going to happen.” I sighed and sat up then blinked as I realized my shirt had been pulled off. I sighed and mumbled “Guess they were checking to make sure I had no other wounds. They could have at least left me my damn shirt when they knew I was ok.” I thought about it a few seconds then glanced down and swore as I saw they’d stripped me down to my boxers, whoever they were. I sighed and got out of bed then held onto the headboard as I was assailed by a wave of dizziness.

I shook my head and mumbled “Gods forsake it, I can’t see straight yet. What could have possibly conked me in the head?” I shook my head as my eyes started to come into focus and blinked as I saw a small horse, well more like a small pony, suddenly walk into the room and stare at me. She blinked a few times then said “Howdy, I’m apple bloom.” I smiled back at her even though my head was still spinning and replied “Jake, Jake wolf. How’re you?” She got a big smile and said “Great, but I better go tell big Macintosh and apple jack you’re all better.” She turned and started to leave then paused at the door to look back at me and ask “You are all better, right?” I slowly shook my head and said “Not really, especially since I’m having a legitimate conversation with a talking horse, and my head is spinning.”

Apple bloom stared at me a while then said “You know what, maybe I’d better go get twilight while I’m out. I’ll be right back.” I nodded in acceptance then dropped on the bed with my head in my hands and a simple “I’m not going anywhere.” I sighed to myself as I sat there and thought on the words from the weird spirit voice thing I’d heard when I was falling through the darkness and mumbled “Ok, so I’m not quite crazy yet, just in a parallel world. Interesting enough, but the question is, how the fuck do I get home when whatever I’m supposed to do here is done?” I felt the pendant around my neck swing out of my shirt and mumbled “She did say keep this safe, so maybe I should hide it on me, rather than wear it in plain sight.” I quickly sat up and took it off, then slid it into my pocket as Apple Bloom burst back into the room with Apple Jack, Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Twilight Sparkle, and Nurse Redheart in tow.

I stared at all of them a few minutes then rubbed my eyes. When they didn’t vanish after that I stared at them a while before focusing on Apple Bloom and asking “So when you said you were going to get twilight, you meant you were going to get everyone currently at sweet apple acres?” Apple Bloom thought about it a while then said “Sorry Jake, I was just trying to help. When Apple Jack heard me talking to Twilight and Nurse Redheart she said she wanted to come, Big Macintosh argued with her, and Granny Smith just kinda snuck up here on me.” I laughed softly and said “No big deal, I didn’t think me being awake would stay under wraps Apple Bloom. Anyway it’s not like I was trying to slip away or anything.”

Apple Jack coughed politely then looked at Apple Bloom with a stern glare and asked “Didn’t I tell yawl not to talk to strangers, especially ones that look nothing like us?” I raised an eyebrow at that as Apple Bloom scraped her hoof on the floor and said “All I was doing was talking with Jake, Apple Jack. Also you said no one’s a stranger once they introduce themselves.” Apple Jack glared at her and said “I meant that about new ponies around town who knew the family. This fella ain’t a new pony. Heck even twilight don’t know what in the name of Celestia he is.”

I growled softly and said “He is getting irritated with everyone ignoring him, that’s what he is.” Apple Jack looked at me slightly shocked and I said “You’re sister only asked me my dang name, and if I was feeling alright. When I said know she went to get the rest of yawl, got a problem with that, miss Apple Jack?” in a southern drawl that would have made my friends in New York wince to hear it coming from me. Twilight Sparkle, and Apple Bloom had to hold back slight giggles as they noticed the change in my voice while Apple Jack just turned on me and said “It ain’t right to interfere in a sisterly conversation, pardner. Whatcha got to say about that?” I smirked and said “The conversation was about me, so I was already part of it. Plus I don’t like you getting onto the little filly for just checking up on me.”

Apple Jack glared at me and said “I have every right to get on my little sister, when she deliberately disobeys me, Granny Smith, and Even Big Macintosh. We told her not to come up here until everything was done. So try talking your way out of that one Mr. Fancy schmancy crazy hoof!!” I blinked and smirked at her then said “Easy, by not explaining why Apple Bloom couldn’t come into this room, you incited her curiosity thus making her want to explore despite her elder’s better judgment. Thus it’s your own damn fault she came in here!”

Apple Jack stared at me a few minutes trying to find a way to argue with me on that one then turned to Twilight and said “Sugar cube, tell him why he’s in the wrong!” I smiled at her and said “Yes madam sparkle, please tell me why I’m in the wrong in this conversation.” Twilight looked back and forth between the two of us going through our argument then said “Well Apple Jack, he has a point. We didn’t really tell Apple Bloom why she shouldn’t come up here, you and Big Macintosh just told her you had someone staying up here and didn’t want anyone to disturb them. You know how curious she gets, so she’d obviously want to see who could possibly be staying at the farm instead of the hospital, and since she’s been raised to respect other ponies by the Apple Family of course she’s going to ask the person if they’re alright and who they are when she meets them.”

Apple Jack looked back and forth between us then glanced at Big Macintosh who said “I guess Twilight has a point Apple Jack. I mean we didn’t really tell Apple Bloom anything, and she’s as curious as you are. Plus she probably thought by helping out a sick person she’ll get a cutie mark for being a doctor. I mean heck she is a member of the cutie mark crusaders.” He said all of this in a slow southern drawl, which told me he was meticulously picking his words out despite being a farm pony that seemed slightly thick witted in the eyes of many people. I nodded at him and said “Thank you for agreeing Big Macintosh.” He shrugged and said “Tweren’t no problem to agree with ya when I know you’re right.” Granny Smith just stood there listening to all of us talk then sighed and said “I’m too old for all this excitement,” and headed downstairs without paying attention to anything else we did.

Meanwhile Nurse Redheart was walking around me studying me from all angles, due to the fact I’d been so irritated with Apple Jack’s stubborn attitude. After a bit she let out a soft sigh and said “You seem to be perfectly fine, for a, well whatever you are. Twilight, did any of your research tell you anything about him?” Slowly Twilight shook her head and said “No he has hands like a dragon, his rear legs and hooves are shaped funny, he seems to be as smart as most ponies I’ve met, he has a stubborn will like Apple Jack, and he’s willing to defend Apple Bloom when he’s barely known her. In all honesty if I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s either a really polite dragon, like spike, or a pony like Apple Jack. However based on the evidence I have no idea.”

Apple Bloom sighed then whispered something to Big Macintosh who slowly nodded his head and said “Hey Jake, what are you?” I smiled and said “Wondering when someone would think to ask me. I’m a human, Latin terminology is Homo Sapien. However I’m not your average human. I don’t like boasting though, so I’ll leave it at that. Now do you guys mind giving me back my shirt and pants?” Apple Jack snorted and said “We had an awful time getting yawl outta your duds, so we kinda ended up ruining em.” I sighed and said “Ok you think I can borrow a blanket or something to use as a makeshift robe until I can see a tailor?”

I suddenly felt dizzy as the bump on my head throbbed and nearly fell over until Nurse Redheart pushed me back onto the bed and said “You’re not leaving this room until you stop looking like you’re going to pass out. If you really need some new clothes I’m sure Twilight Sparkle and Apple Jack’s friend Rarity would be happy to give you one. Right, Apple Jack, Twilight, or do you think she’d rather not be involved?” Apple Jack thought about it then said “Well if I know anything about Rarity she’ll probably jump at the opportunity to work on a new design for someone who’s not a pony. She’ll probably count it as a possible boom in business.” Twilight nodded and continued “Plus I don’t think she’ll complain about leaving the shop for a little bit and meeting someone new.”

They walked out of the room while Nurse Redheart continued to make sure I was ok the headed downstairs to talk with Granny Smith. Meanwhile Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom just studied me carefully. I looked at Big Macintosh and asked “You guys going to let me be alone now that I’m awake?” He shook his head and said “Nope.” I sighed and mumbled “Figures, I wake up in the land of ponies and they have the thoroughbred watch my every move.” All the while Apple Bloom was running around the room trying to figure out what the heck a human was, and if I could help her get her cutie mark. Meanwhile Big Macintosh just stood there watching me. After a bit I sighed and said “Is the main reason you’re up here, her?” and pointed at Apple Bloom. He followed my finger then shook his head and said “Nope. I figured one of us had better make sure you follow Nurse Redheart’s orders.”

Apple Bloom however stopped bouncing around long enough to ask “So where’d you come from? How’d you get here?” I smiled at her and asked “Would you believe I just dropped in?” She shook her head and I sighed then said “Tough luck little one. I ended up here by falling down a well with a strange voice telling me all sorts of prophetic mumbo jumbo. It was really interesting, but made no sense to me.” Suddenly I had a blinding headache and mumbled “Oh gods, I think I’m having a migraine attack, and I forgot my pills.” I closed my eyes hoping it would fade away, and instead it intensified as the voice came back and said softly “I left out an important fact. The queen of the moon, and the daughter of the night will separate, but both will always hold you in high faith, for it will be you who finds a way to separate the moon from the night.”

As the voice faded so did the pain, however when it was almost completely gone an even more piercing pain took its place, as well as a voice that was full of malice and maliciousness. The voice cackled madly then said, so softly I almost couldn’t hear it, “I see, so she managed to bring you here after all. That’s alright; it just means I get rid of you that much sooner.” I growled I don’t know if it was out loud or in my head, but I did so loudly. The voice laughed and said “Ah the puppy seems to have a problem with my taunts. That’s ok, he should. I will destroy you, dog. I would take away your protection, however since my minions can’t find you without that little necklace, maybe I should make it into a permanent part of you. Now, where should I put it… your stomach? No. Maybe I should put it in your forehead no that would be cruel. Ah I know I’ll bind it to your flesh where you’ll feel it with every beat of your heart. I’ll put it right in the center of your chest.”

Suddenly the pain flowed from my head into my chest as liquid fire seemed to flow through my veins and pool in that area. I screamed, loudly and in pain. The pain only intensified with every breath I took until finally it vanished. In its place was a calm cooling sensation as the female voice came back and said “He doesn’t know the gift he’s given you. His minions may now be able to track you, but now you may know who they are due to his magic. Remember this; all of magic has a price, so it must be used wisely. I can do nothing else for you, so it’s time for you to awaken yet again young warrior.”

I started to protest I was awake, then felt as if I was dragged out of a dream and found myself sitting up in my impromptu bed. Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh were staring at me as if I were some sort of monster, or freak. I slowly looked at them and asked “Did either of you hear the voice of a woman, or a madman?” Big Macintosh just shook his head and said “Nope. Only thing we heard was you screaming. Are you alrigh?” I nodded slowly and said softly “Yeah, just a bit thirsty.” Apple Bloom, who was shivering behind Big Macintosh suddenly ran forward and hopped on the bed then stared me in the eyes and asked “How’d you do all the weird light thingies with your necklace?” I started to ask what she meant, when suddenly Twilight Sparkle ran into the room and said “Alright who was performing magic?”

I stared at her lost and she said “Don’t say no one was, because my horn just suddenly flared up while I was downstairs letting me know magic was being used in the area.” Suddenly her horn started glowing and she started moving around, almost like her horn was a magical dousing rod. She pointed it at me and it started glowing with the light of a super nova. I blinked and covered my eyes while Apple Bloom stared at it and Big Macintosh said “Yep. That’s magic alright.” He then walked out of the room to make sure everyone else was alright. Meanwhile Twilight stared at me then asked “What the heck happened? Why are you surrounded by magic? WHAT, IN CELESTIA’S NAME IS GOING ON!!!???” I blinked and rubbed my ears then said “I came here by magic, my necklace was magic, and magic bound it to me. Ok?”

She stared at me a while then said “Why don’t you start at the beginning?” I shrugged and said “Fine, but you won’t believe half of it.” Then I told her everything from my journeys back home, to how I ended up in Equestria. When I was done she stared at me then said softly “It makes no sense though! I mean how could you have possibly arrived here through a portal in the sky? How could whoever have created the portal to your land not just shown there self to you?” Eventually Twilight wound down and said “Despite my doubts, I’m forced to believe you.” I stared at her, lost for words then she continued “The way you talked about it all almost made me feel as if I was there, also to be completely honest I had a spell to tell me if you were lying or not. When it said you weren’t I realized that you were no threat to Equestria.” I stared at her a few seconds then laughed and said “Clever Twilight, very clever. I should have known Celestia’s best pupil would have a way to know if I was lying.”

She studied me then asked “Why didn’t you lie?” I shrugged and said “Because I have the feeling I could trust you. As such I wanted to prove you could trust me.” She slowly nodded; meanwhile Apple Bloom was looking back and forth between us like she thought something was up. I bowed to twilight and winced as it pulled the fresh burn on my chest then pointed at Apple Bloom and said “You’re in deep crap missy.” She stared at me surprised and I said “You shouldn’t have disobeyed your big sister Apple Jack. I mean it wasn’t right of her to chew you out, but she was just trying to keep you safe. Seeing as how I just popped up at the farm out of nowhere, with no explanation, of course they’re going to tell you to not come into the room they’re keeping me in.”

Apple Bloom stared at me and said “But…” I held up a hand and said “No buts, your sister was just looking out for you and you disobeyed her. I like you Apple Bloom, but you have to learn that those of us who are older than you do know what we’re talking about. I mean heck I was the same way when I was younger, and I paid the price for my actions.” Then I pointed at the mark on my chest and said “This is one of the things you get when you don’t think before you act, or take other’s thoughts into consideration. Remember that, so you don’t end up like me.” She nodded and ran out of the room to apologize to Apple Jack.

As soon as Apple Bloom left the room I studied the mark on my chest. It was the exact same horse depiction as the pendant; however now it was dark red, and looked like it had been burned into my flesh. The pendant itself was nowhere to be found. I stared at the depiction inscribed into my chest and mumbled “Oh yay, so it wasn’t just the migraine getting to me. I really have stumbled into a world with its own laws for everything, even magic.” I sighed then blinked as Apple Jack and Rarity walked upstairs with a bunch of pieces of fabric between them. Apple Jack looked at me then took off her hat and said softly “Um, uh, I’d like to apologize about earlier. I know it wasn’t right to ignore yawl while I was talking to Apple Bloom, but it also wasn’t right for yawl to interfere in a family conversation.”

I slowly stood up and bowed, the wound on my chest stretching painfully, then said “My apologies Apple Jack. I know I shouldn’t have interfered, but I didn’t think it was right you were so mad at Apple Bloom for a bit of harmless curiosity. I understand what you were trying to do, and I guess I should have let you, however I really hate when people play the elder sibling card. Also thanks for bringing me into the farm. I recognized your voice when I heard you to Apple Bloom and forgot to properly thank you. If it weren’t for you, and whoever else dragged me back to the farm house, I’d have probably been in a lot worse shape.”

Apple Jack put on her hat and said “It weren’t nothing worth talking about. Big Macintosh saw you were in trouble and said we should bring you inside. I ain’t one to deny anyone, help when they need it. Big Macintosh ain’t one to deny anyone who needs help, it either. So we picked you up and brought you inside.” Rarity let out a dainty “A hem” to get everyone’s attention. Twilight quickly understood and said “Rarity, this is Jake. Jake this is our friend Rarity.” I bowed politely as she offered her hoof to me and kissed it then said “I’m charmed to meet a lady of such beauty and refinement. My apologies that I didn’t introduce myself right away, however I felt it only right to apologize to Apple Jack.”

Rarity stared at me slightly taken aback then said “Why it’s quite alright. I’m just surprised someone who is, so different, has such manners.” She looked at Twilight questioningly and Twilight said “No I didn’t tell him anything about you, so don’t ask me Rarity. I’m actually as amazed by his reaction toward you as you are. I sort of expected him to butt heads with you like he did Apple Jack.” I blinked and waited patiently for one of them to talk to me then Apple Jack cut in with a simple “I dunno why he’s treating yawl so nice Rarity. I mean he kinda let me have it up one side and down the other about Apple Bloom.”

Rarity turned to her and said “Maybe your uncouth mannerisms were why.” Twilight sighed and said “Guys, don’t start this again.” I coughed politely catching their attention and said “I only let Apple jack “have it up one side and down the other” about Apple Bloom because I felt like she needed a little bit of help. Then we started arguing and my stubbornness got the better of me. I really would have like to start off on a better foot. With that said, could we please remedy my, ahem, clothing situation?” Rarity and the other two stared at me slightly confused, then rarity noticed my distinct lack of fur, and that my boxers were the only clothing on me and pushed the other two out of the room saying “Ladies, this young man deserves some privacy while I work.”

I blinked as I watched Apple Jack and Twilight pushed out of the room then had Rarity turn to me and start talking really fast about clothing, accessories, and other things someone from higher society would know a lot more about. I held up a hand to slow her down and said “Lady Rarity I’m not that high class. In all honesty I only spent a few years in the city, and prefer getting down and dirty like Apple Jack. I do however like getting dressed up for special occasions, so you think you could please make me some regular day to day wear and some Formal Wear?”

Rarity’s eyes lit up at Formal Wear and she asked me “What did you have in mind?” I smiled politely and said “A simple black tuxedo with a red or white undershirt if you don’t mind.” She thought about it then started putting strips of cloth next to my skin comparing how the color matched my skin tone. Eventually she settled on a few bolts of dark blue, dark green, black, and a light red color. Then she used her horn to levitate a measuring tape and start taking my measurements. A few times I winced as she was a bit overzealous with the tape and hit me in my groin. Each time she apologized and said “I don’t know what’s so different between you and a male pony. Most of them don’t have a problem when I run the tape between their legs.” I smiled politely and said “Our anatomies are slightly different.”

She nodded in understanding then finished taking my measurements and started for the door. She turned back to me and smiled then said “You know I think you’ll look rather dashing in the outfits I have planned for you, darling. I hope you’ll like them as much as I do. If you have any ideas about fashion where you come from, please send them to me via twilight or one of the others.” I nodded and sat down on the bed noticing that the pain in my head was gone. I smiled politely as she started for the door again then said “Farewell miss Rarity, I hope I may see you again sometime soon.” She smiled at me then turned and walked off humming softly.

I blinked as I watched her go and mumbled “Three out of six ponies and now Rarity is making me some new clothes. This should be interesting.” I shook my head then looked up as Apple Jack and Twilight walked in. Twilight looked at me and asked “What did you say to Rarity, it’s not often she acts so happy when she knows she can’t get paid for her job.” I shrugged and said “She finds me interesting for some reason.” Apple Jack laughed and said “She ain’t the only one. I’m still trying to figure out how you beat me “Honesty. I just told you the truth, which is you were kinda being a…. well since your both ladies I’ll reserve my language for when I’m more irritated.”

Twilight and Apple Jack looked at me slightly confused then Twilight shrugged and said “Well then I guess I’d better head home and write a letter to Princess Celestia about all this.” She turned and trotted out of the room with a flick of her tail as a goodbye then Apple Jack walked over and studied me before asking “So cowboy, what are you doing in these parts?” I blinked and said “For now I’m waiting for clothes from Rarity, after that I plan on seeing the princess. As for how I got here, well a Pegasus named Blaze dropped me off in a hay bale, where something smacked me in the head.” She stared at me then sighed and said “That gosh darn Pegasus. He don’t even ask before dropping strangers off at the farm. He was probably going to hang out with Rainbow Dash. I hope she gave him a good beating in a race. That boy needs to learn a thing or two about disappointment.”

I stared at Apple Jack then coughed politely to bring her back to the present and said “Sorry to cause you so much trouble Apple Jack. If it’ll help, I’ll try to make it up to you by helping with the harvest.” She stared at me and said “What would you know about Apple bucking?” I blinked and said “Not much, but I’m a fast learner. Also I can probably collect the other crops you guys have so much trouble with a bit faster than you, thanks to my hands.” She stared at me confused and I showed her my hands then flexed my fingers. She blinked and said “Boy, them there sure are some strange things, but I bet they work really well at grabbing stuff.”

I nodded then she glanced out the window and said “Looks like we should get some shut eye. I’ll see ya in the morning.” I nodded and watched her go. When she got to the window she turned back to me and said “By the way, Welcome to Ponyville cowboy. Hope you’re words meet up with your actual abilities.” I chuckled at that and said “I don’t boast Apple Jack. The only thing I’m worried about is Apple Bucking.” She nodded and walked off to her room to get some shut eye while Big Macintosh walked into mine and slipped into bed with me.

I stared at him and he said “Sorry, but we had to put you in my bed due to your size. If you want I can sleep outside.” I shook my head and said “Nah, I’m good. Don’t put yourselves out anymore on my account.” He nodded and the two of us drifted off to sleep. My last thoughts as I drifted off were “Welcome to Ponyville, Huh? Interesting, I wonder what the hell the future has in store for a guy like me in a land where horses and ponies are the predominant race. Ah well, guess we’ll find out in the morning.”

Chapter 3: New Clothes, Parties, and Races. What the hell is going on???

I woke up the following morning to the feeling of someone, or something nuzzling my neck. At first I thought it was my dog and I was back home, that maybe it had all been a dream then I heard a very horse like snort and sighed. I opened my eyes and glanced over my shoulder at Big Macintosh who seemed to be pressed against me unintentionally. I slipped out of the bed and stretched wincing as I pulled the burn on my chest then walked downstairs. Granny Smith was sitting in her rocker watching Apple Bloom who was groaning about having class in about an hour or two. I looked up and realized that it was just barely sunrise and mumbled “How long did I sleep?”

Apple Jack walked up with her hat on, and a lasso over her shoulders and said “About seven or eight hours. I expected you to sleep in longer and Big Macintosh to be up by now. What the hay did you do to my brother?” I blinked and said “I woke up being cuddled by him. Other than that I didn’t do anything.” Apple Jack stared at me at a loss for words while Apple Bloom burst out laughing. After a few minutes Big Macintosh came running down the stairs and stopped dead when he saw me. He blushed slightly and said “Sorry bout this morning, you were just really warm.”

I stared at him along with Apple Jack, whose jaw had dropped, and Apple Bloom, who was laughing her rear end off. I gently nudged Apple Bloom who stopped laughing and said “It’s ok Big Macintosh, I understand.” I shrugged and said “We’ll worry about why you were cuddling me later. Well, I guess we should get to work, unless you guys don’t plan on getting a crop today?” That spurred Apple Jack into motion because she harnessed herself up to a wagon and started out into the orchards. I sighed and followed along behind her as Big Macintosh did the same and Apple Bloom waited for Scootaloo to show up on her scooter.

We walked into the first set of trees then I watched as Apple Jack kicked one of the trees starting to fill her cart with apples. I walked over to a tree across from her then shrugged to myself and punched it. I winced slightly at the pain in my hand, but suddenly apples started falling from the tree as it shook. I stared at it and saw a bruise on the trunk then mumbled “What the heck? I couldn’t do that back home.” I rubbed the tree’s trunk and watched as it healed from the blow I’d just landed on it then started to gently lob the apples into Apple Jack’s cart. However I overestimated the distance and force required, and ended up throwing the apples into the tree she was bucking causing them to explode and coat her in apple juice.

She looked over at me with a surprised expression and said “Why’d you do something like that?” I blinked and said “It overshot the cart; I guess I don’t know my own strength.” She slowly nodded then tossed an apple at me with her teeth I watched it fly through the air almost as if it was in slow motion then snagged it and took a bite. She stared at me then said “Well, I’ll be. I didn’t expect anyone to move that fast. The apple was about to hit you and you just grabbed it out of the air like there was nothing to it. How’d you do that?” I stared at her over the half eaten apple then lowered it and swallowed with a simple “What do you mean?”

She glared and said “I’m serious. You just snagged that apple out of midair like it was travelin’ no faster than a pony walks. How’d you do that?” I shrugged and said “I saw the apple coming toward me and just grabbed it. I didn’t realize you threw it that hard. Then again, it seemed almost as if the apple was moving in slow motion when I watched it, and my hand was moving at normal speed.” Apple Jack shook her head and said “Whoa there cowboy, your hand wasn’t moving at regular speed. Your hand was moving three times as fast as I’d seen it do earlier. Also that apple was travelling at a pretty good pace, I was trying to get you back. You sure you weren’t doing anything special?”

I thought about it for a good five minutes or so then said “Not really, the only thing I did was tossed the apples.” Apple Jack stared at me a while then said “Well I guess if you don’t know how ya did it, ya don’t know. Let’s get back to work.” I nodded and picked up the apples then piled them on her cart, which she promptly took back to the barn as I started kicking and punching a few more trees, causing the apples to fall down like a fresh spring rain. After about ten minutes my knuckles, and the bottoms of my feet, were raw and bloody. I fell to the ground panting as Apple Jack walked up dragging three carts behind her.

She looked from me to the apple trees then back and said “Looks like ya over worked yourself, partner.” I smiled at her from my spot on the ground and said “I wanted to pay you guys back for taking care of me the last two days.” Apple Jack just shook her head and said “Dear Celestia, cowboy. You don’t know when to quit? We didn’t expect you to pay us back at all, let alone work yourself back into the ground for us. How’re you supposed to get better if you keep pushing yourself?”

I grinned at her and said “Easy, if I push myself that means my limits have been set to a new standard. My knuckles and feet might be bloody now, but in a day or two they’ll be all healed up and I can do twice the work I did today.” Apple Jack shook her head then started tossing the apples in the carts muttering about stubborn cowboys. I laughed and asked “Hey Apple Jack, what gave away the fact I was a cowboy.” She glanced at me as she set another apple in the carts and said “First off your attitude is a lot like mine and Big Macintosh’s, second you know how to sweet talk a girl yet be firm. Third, only a cowboy or cowpony would stand up to the apple family in quite the way you did. Last but not least, you managed to have a down home accent without really trying, which is hard for most city folks.”

I shrugged and said “I spent a lot of my life in the city, but always feel most at home on a farm, though where I come from I prefer ranching.” She stared at me confused and I said “Working with animals in a farm like setting. Farms are great, but ranches are better. Then again, since all the animals we consider ranch animals back home are actually sentient here, I guess ranching wouldn’t be as fun.” She stared at me lost and I said “Horses and Cows aren’t as smart where I come from, as they are here. Though I sometimes wonder if we humans don’t delude ourselves into thinking they’re not very smart.”

Apple Jack nodded and said “I sometimes wonder about things like that too, although not about ponies and cows. I was thinking more about rabbits and squirrels. Speaking of which Fluttershy should be over to make sure the varmints don’t attack the tree’s again. You want a lift back to the barn, since the carts are full, and you really can’t work much more.” I smiled and said “Sure Apple Jack, I’d love a lift. Seeing as how I don’t think it’ll be very easy for me to walk with my feet as they are.” Apple Jack just sighed and walked over then bent down and pulled me onto her back I slowly shifted so I was comfortable then said “Sorry about putting you out like this Apple Jack. I hate relying on others.”

She let out a soft whinny of irritation and said “Gosh darn it, ya need to stop thinking like that. It’s alright to rely on people. I mean if you don’t, how’re you ever going to get anythin done? Heck I was the same way come Apple Bucking Season, but Twilight and the others showed me just how wrong I was. Now I guess it’s my turn to show you.” She walked over to the cart and I slid off her back into it as she harnessed up then started back for the farm. It took about twenty minutes to head back, when it should have only taken ten, because of my injuries. As soon as we arrived Nurse Redheart rushed over and started checking me over. She tsked over my injuries then looked at me and said “Looks like I’ll have to put you back in bed.” As she said that I glanced at my hands and noticed that the scrapes had healed a little bit and had a fresh layer of skin over them.

I glanced at my feet and saw they were the same way then mumbled “What the hell? I don’t understand why my body is healing so fast.” Nurse Redheart heard what I said and started studying my wounds then asked “They were worse than this?” I nodded and said “Yeah, they were deeper, there was less skin, and they were bloodier.” She slowly nodded and mumbled “That is strange.” Suddenly she smiled at me and said “Well if you’re healing so quickly, you’ll probably be up and about in no time.” I nodded and closed my eyes just reclining on the apples. Suddenly I heard someone saying “Watch out, fastest flyer in Ponyville coming through!” I opened one eye and saw a rainbow colored blur flying at me, so I instinctively rolled out of the cart onto the ground swearing in a multitude of languages.

The rainbow colored blur slammed into the apple cart and knocked it on its side then stopped dead and said “Dang it, that trick didn’t go anything like I expected.” I slowly pushed myself up, then got up to my feet and yelled in her face “WHAT THE HELL KIND OF BONEHEAD WOULD DO SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY PUTS THEMSELVES IN DANGER, BUT ALSO ANYONE WHO GETS IN HER WAY!!!!” I took a deep breath to continue when Apple Jack coughed softly and said “Jake, I think you need to calm down.” I nodded and let out a soft sigh then waited for the young rainbow colored horse in front of me to let me know why she did that.

The girl took a deep breath then said softly “First off, the name’s Rainbow Dash, creator of the sonic Rainboom, and fastest pony in Ponyville.” I sighed and said “Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash. I’m Jake, the guy you bloody well tried to kill just now,” sarcasm, followed by anger creeping into my voice as I continued speaking. Apple Jack elbowed me and said “Now be nice Jake. Rainbow didn’t mean to hurt anyone. She was just practicing a new trick.” Rainbow started to nod with Apple Jack, then seemed to get defensive and said “What were you doing sleeping on one of Apple Jack’s carts, anyway?” I blinked slightly taken aback then said “My hands and feet were bleeding so Apple Jack let me ride them back to the barn.”

Rainbow Dash let out a very unladylike snort and said “A likely story. If that’s the case why aren’t your feet bothering you right now, and why do your ‘hands’ just look like they’re covered in scars?” I followed her eyes to my hands then shrugged and said “I guess my body healed itself a lot quicker than I thought. Why, do you think I’d lie about that?” Rainbow Dash studied me then said simply “I’m just saying you’re not hurt right now. However if you’re so worried that you might be lying, it makes you seem pretty suspicious.” I glared at her and said “If you’re going to call me a liar, then say it to my face. Otherwise you can take me at my word.” She thought about it then turned to Apple Jack and said “Hey AJ, were his ‘hands’ and feet bleeding earlier?” Apple Jack nodded and said “Yep. Kinda surprised me, cause he was helping me apple buck and over did it.”

Rainbow stared at me a bit then said softly “Alright, you win this round. Doesn’t mean I accept everything you say. How’d you get here? Why were you helping AJ harvest the apples? Most importantly, what’s with your superior attitude?” I glared at her and said “The first one is none of your business. The second one is I was repaying a debt to the apple family. The last one, I don’t have a superior attitude. I just think you’re an arrogant mule. No offense.” Rainbow glared at me then replied sarcastically “Oh none taken. You know it’s not like I’m never called it. I actually consider it a term to describe how cool I am.”

I stared at her a few seconds then burst out laughing and held up a hand for a high five and said “Nice one fly girl, nice one. I gotta give you props for the sarcasm in that one.” Rainbow stared at me a few seconds then gave me a hoof to hand high five and said “Thanks. I kinda expected you to be a bit madder when I gave as good as I got.” I smirked and said “I don’t take it offensively when people give it as good as they get it. I actually have to give you props for that one, because your sarcasm was grade a.” Rainbow stared at me a bit then said “I guess you’re not so bad. Want a race?”

I thought about it for a bit then said “Once I get my clothes from Rarity, sure.” She stared at me and said “You let Rarity make your clothes?” I slowly nodded and she said “Oh god. Excuse me while I go make sure she keeps your stuff cool.” Then she zoomed off. I turned away from where Rainbow had just been to see Apple Jack staring at me with a surprised expression. I blinked at her and said “I know I’m good looking, but seeing as you’ve seen me multiple times that can’t be why I’m getting that look.” Apple Jack continued to stare a little bit then said “You’re the first person to ever get along with Rainbow at their first meeting. How’d ya do it?”

I thought about it for a bit then said “In all honesty Apple Jack, I just let out my more...arrogant attitude. Rainbow didn’t like it too much, however when I went back to the attitude you’re more used to she decided she preferred that. So she tried to become friends rather than constantly clash with me.” Apple Jack stared at me then said “I’m starting to think you could give Twilight a run for her money in the smarts department.” I blinked and said “I’m not so sure about that. Twilight tends to aim for the higher intellectual arts, while I prefer to aim at doing work with my hands, or the creative arts.” Apple Jack stared at me and said “Higher inteli what? What exactly are the creative arts?” I sighed and said “The higher intelligent Arts. Meaning she prefers to act like a scholar. While I prefer the creative arts, such as writing, sculpting, and carving things. I mainly do that when there isn’t any work to be done.”

Apple Jack nodded understanding things a lot better with that little bit of explanation then said “So what makes you say you aren’t so much of a scholar?” I shrugged and said “I prefer to spend my time spinning stories, and working out in the fields over sitting in a room reading books and studying histories.” Apple Jack slowly nodded and said “I can agree with the last part. I hate having to read when I could be out helping clean up the fields, or baking some new treat with the farm’s apples. Heck I don’t know that many ponies that would want to be reading a book when they could be doing something else, well ‘cept for twilight. Now I see why you say she’s more of a scholar than you.” I nodded and yawned then got up and said “How about we take a walk into town and see how Rarity’s coming along with all those outfits I asked for?”

Apple Jack nodded and motioned for me to lead on then the two of us started into Ponyville. As we walked Apple Bloom suddenly ran and caught up to us with a simple “I gotta get to school, and I felt like walking with yawl.” Apple Bloom glanced at me and asked “So Jake, why you headed to town with my big sis?” I just smiled at her and said “I need to get my clothing from Rarity. If I don’t then I’m going to feel really, really, awkward as time goes on. I know you ponies aren’t big on clothing but, well I don’t have hair covering me protectively.” Apple Bloom studied me a while then smiled slightly and said “I see what ya mean. I guess it would help if you had something to wear besides your skin.”

I nodded and glanced at Apple Jack who had a suspiciously serious face and wouldn’t look at us. I also noticed she refused to stare at me very long and would occasionally shake her head as if pushing away things she didn’t want to think about. I shrugged and brushed it off deciding I was being too paranoid and started a discussion with Apple Bloom about how to get her cutie mark. She argued with me regularly on it, however eventually she conceded I had a few good points after mumbling something about me being more stubborn than Big Macintosh and Apple Jack together. I chuckled and waved her off as she ran to school then dropped back to walk alongside AJ who was looking up as if she expected trouble. I coughed softly and she looked at me questioningly.

I smiled and said “Copper for your thoughts?” She snickered and said “My thoughts are worth a lot more than copper.” I shrugged and said “Fine, a couple pounds of silver for your thoughts?” She smiled at that and said “I’m just amazed no one’s come up to bug us yet. I was expecting at least a few ponies to walk up and ask questions, I guess twilight convinced the town you’re nothing to worry about.” I snorted at that and mumbled “Maybe, but I kind of doubt it. I get the feeling someone or something is going to cause today to be one hell of a day.” Apple Jack just shrugged and said “Maybe, but we don’t know anything so might as well relax and wait to see, right?”

I grinned and said “Exactly, if all you do is stress out then life becomes no fun. Life isn’t fun then why are we going through it?” Apple Jack nodded and said “Also if ya stress too much, then all you’re gonna do is make whatever your current job is, a lot harder.” I nodded and said “I’m amazed someone as young as you has such a strong work ethic, unless of course I’m wrong and you aren’t that young.” She glanced at me and said “Well how old are you?” I smiled and said “Twenty, which means I just passed adulthood where I come from. Though, I’ve had the mind of an adult sine I was a child thanks to all the reading I did and the situations I grew up with.”

Apple Jack stopped and studied me a while then said “I’m about eighteen years old. Probably a little older, since Apple Bloom is going to be seven and I was twelve when she was born. Twilight and the rest of our group are the same age. If you want to get really technical I was five when I got my cutie mark, so I’d be thirteen or fourteen. However I assume you’re going off the year you were born.” I nodded slightly surprised that the girls were so much older than I’d thought. I figured they were only about twelve or thirteen, however it started to make sense when I thought about how rarity had her own business, twilight ran the town library, and Rainbow Dash worked for the weather department. I sighed and mumbled “Oh yay, this makes life so much better.”

AJ looked at me questioningly and I said “Sorry my mind wandered over some stuff for a little while there. Could we please go back to what you were saying?” She shrugged and said “Well, The entire gang is technically adults, especially when looked at it from an age stand point, though Pinky and Fluttershy make me wonder at times. Pinky makes me wonder because she acts just like a young filly when things go wrong and Fluttershy because of her shyness. It’s hard to see them as adults at times.” I snorted softly at that and said “I guess we’ll have to see on that, won’t we?” She nodded and the two of us started walking again, both off in our own little worlds. Suddenly I heard someone say “Watch out!”

I instinctively pushed Apple Jack to the left then rolled to the right, slamming directly into a Pegasus who shook her head and said “Sorry, I guess I wasn’t paying that much attention. I didn’t realize I wasn’t going to hit you guys if you didn’t move.” I stared at her and realized she was a bit cross eyed. I shrugged as I dusted off and said “No big, everyone’s ok, right?” She nodded as I helped her get back to her hooves then flew off. Suddenly a bright pink party ran up and blew a god damn party streamer in my face. I flinched back reaching for a knife I didn’t have then stared at her and said “Really, really?” She smiled and let it fall then said “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! You’re new to town. We’ve got to have a party!!!” then ran off without another word.

I blinked as Apple Jack said “That was Pinky Pie. If you couldn’t tell, she’s the most fun and party loving pony out there.” I nodded and said “I could kind of tell on the party part. Anything else I should know about her?” She shrugged and said “If Ditzy Doo doesn’t tell everyone about you, she sure as sugar will.” I sighed and mumbled “Oh yay, better get my clothes fast then.” She nodded in agreement and the two of us started running for Rarity’s place.

As soon as we got there the door opened and Rarity and Rainbow Dash pulled us inside. Rarity started talking really fast and excitedly while Rainbow Dash just shrugged at me as if to say ‘She’s been like this for a while.’ Apple Jack waited about five minutes then said “Rarity, Rarity, um RARITY!!!!! Slow down. We can’t understand a word your saying when you’re talking so gosh darn fast.” Rarity took a deep breath to calm herself then said “The outfit I made is just as Jake asked, but it came out better than I expected. I think a little of my magic may have even rubbed off onto it.”

I blinked and asked “Then why were you spazzing so much?” Rarity stared at me then said “That was not ‘spazzing’. Ladies do not ‘spaz’. We get overly excited, but we do not spaz as you put it. I was just amazed that I managed to make something that I’m sure you will love. Now I guess we’d better go to the fitting room so you can try it on.” I nodded and politely followed the three of them upstairs to Rarity’s work room where I blinked as I saw six manikins standing and staring at me with their blank faces. They were all human shaped, and about as tall as I was. I glanced at Rarity questioningly and she said “I had one of my friends make them after I got your measurements. She was more than happy to do it when I said they were for a new customer.”

I nodded then walked over to the first of the manikins which had a completely black outfit on it. I slipped on the shirt first then stretched out as I felt it fit my form perfectly and blinked as the fabric seemed to move with me. It was a simple t shirt, but I had no idea what kind of cloth Rarity used in it, or how she managed to make it fit me so perfectly, while not restricting my movement at all. I moved my arms a few times then pulled on the pants and did a few kicks trying to see if they impeded my movement at all. When they didn’t I grinned and did a quick jump into the air then yelped as my head hit the ceiling. I fell flat on my back and curled in a ball swearing up a storm then looked at Rarity, who was holding up a pair of sneakers that fit my description perfectly.

I completely ignored my aching head and swiped them then pulled them onto my feet and sighed softly at the feeling of them. I smiled at her and said “Thanks Rarity, you completely passed my expectations.” She smiled brightly and said “Thank you for giving me such a challenge Jake. I hope you liked the colors I picked.” I slowly glanced at the other four outfits and snickered to myself as I replied “They’ll do just fine.” The other sets were Dark Blue, Red, Dark Green, and a brilliant White that burned my eyes if I stared at it too long, and a silver one that looked like it was meant for special occasions. I blinked and said “I’m guessing the silver one is so I can meet Princess Celestia?” Rarity nodded and said “Yes Twilight told me how you plan on speaking with her so I believed it wise to give you clothing for the occasion.”

I nodded and stretched out then took the other five outfits and folded them up before laying them down on the back of a normal manikin for this world then glanced at Rainbow and asked “Want to race? I want to see how much working on Apple Jack’s farm today helped me get back toward being in shape.” Rainbow nodded and the two of us walked outside then we both crouched and Twilight walked up. She glanced at us and asked “What’s up guys?” I smiled at her and said “Race. Want to be the announcer?” She nodded and said “Sure. You guys ready?” We nodded and she said “Ready, Set, GO!” Rainbow took off like a bullet shot out of a gun.

I took one step forward then felt as if my body was weightless as I charged down the road jumping over the occasional pony that got in my way completely focused on reaching Apple Acres since that’s where Rainbow Dash and I agreed to make the finish line. As I continued down the road I noticed I had Rainbow Dash on my left and she blinked as she saw me keeping pace with her. She glanced back then glanced at me again and said “How’re you keeping up with me, you can’t even fly!” I shrugged and kept running the grinned at Rainbow and picked up the pace starting to gain on her.

We ran another five minutes then the gate of Apple Acres came into view with Twilight, Apple Jack, Rarity, and a Pegasus with pink hair was sitting and watching us. I picked up the pace and gained another few inches on Rainbow then reached my hand out and entered the farm with her nose right behind me. I fell flat on my face and laughed softly as Rainbow said “NO FAIR!!!! You guys saw, he had to be cheating.” Rarity blinked and said “No Rainbow, his entire body crossed the finish line ahead of you.” I chuckled softly and said “Looks like I’m faster than the infamous Rainbow Dash.” Apple Jack looked at me and said softly “Don’t kick a girl when she’s down.” I glanced at Rainbow and said “Though I bet you weren’t at your best.” Rainbow saw I was offering a chance to keep her pride and said “Yeah, but you’re not too bad yourself. You must be a top racer where you come from.”

I shook my head and said “Not really, I actually tend to not compete back home.” Rainbow Dash stared at me and said “Why not, you seem to be awesome at racing.” I shrugged and said “I’ve just never been that interested in competing, though it was fun. Maybe we can race again some time.” She nodded then glanced at everyone and saw the pink haired Pegasus. She coughed softly and said “Anyway, I guess I should probably introduce everyone. You already know Apple Jack and Rarity, I guess you know Twilight, and Apple Jack said you met Pinkie Pie, so the only one left is Fluttershy.” She pointed at the pink haired Pegasus and said “This is Fluttershy. Fluttershy this is Jake.” I blinked and smiled politely then said “Nice to meet you Fluttershy.” Fluttershy smiled at me and said “Hi, nice to meet you too.”

I blinked as a little rabbit poked its head out from behind Fluttershy and studied me. I blinked then said “Who’s your friend, Fluttershy?” She followed where I was looking then smiled and said “Oh that’s Angel.” I grinned and said “Nice to meet you Angel. You’re a very beautiful bunny.” Angel preened a little at that then proudly hopped up on Fluttershy’s back. I glanced at Twilight who was studying me as if she was completely surprised I’d been able to heal so fast, and that I’d kept up with Rainbow Dash. I glanced at her and asked “Something on your mind?” She shook her head and looked at me then said “No just slightly surprised, I mean you’re completely different from how you were when you first got here.”

I shrugged and said “I dunno, maybe it’s you girls, or maybe it’s just the fact it’s a change in scenery. Whatever the cause I feel a lot better than when I first got here.” Twilight nodded then Apple Jack sighed and said “Guess we better head to sugar cube corner.” I raised an eyebrow when they mentioned sugar cube corner, since I hadn’t heard of it before and Rainbow Dash said “I’ll go tell Pinky we’re on our way.” Then she vanished in a rainbow blur. Apple Jack, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and I all followed her at a slightly more sedate pace. I walked alongside Twilight talking about different books and authors with her then mentioned the fact that I was a writer myself. She asked me if I could write her a story and I readily agreed then the two of us started forming the story as we walked.

Suddenly out of nowhere a purple blur dropped down and smacked me in the face. As I started to get up I heard a voice yell “TWILIGHT WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT GUY!!!! WHY’D YOU LEAVE ME AT THE LIBRARY?? WHAT ARE YOU NOT TELING ME!!” Twilight blinked slightly taken aback as I picked up the figure sitting on my face and stood up holding what appeared to be a large lizard by its tail. It turned and looked at me then said “What’s the big idea holding a dragon by his tail?” I laughed and said “How about you stop yelling at my friends and I agree to set you down?”

He glared at me a while then said “Fine, deal.” I set him down and he let out a small burst of fire causing me to jump back and kick him in the stomach causing him to let out another burst of flame. I glared at him and said softly “I know I didn’t mention not blasting me with fire, but it was implied.” He glared at me a few minutes letting out small puffs of flame then turned and stormed over to twilight and hopped onto her back. Twilight proceeded to chew us both out. I hung my head in shame and the dragon just glared at me then said “Spike you need to learn to stop jumping to conclusions.” Spike snorted and said “It seemed a lot like he was trying to romance you.”

I blinked and said “Not really, I was just helping get the foundation for the story she asked me to write. Also if you want to talk about me when I’m right here, why don’t you ask me my intentions?” He stared at me a bit then we started walking onward in silence. After a bit I fell behind to start talking with Apple Jack and Fluttershy. I got into a slightly heated debate with Fluttershy on how to properly take care of some animals and Apple Jack suddenly broke in with a “You seem to have had your hand in just about everything Jake. Care to explain how?” I slowly started telling them about my work with the local pound back home, growing up on a small farm, and living in the city as well as growing up in a family that loved to read.

Fluttershy blinked and said “Wow…I didn’t expect anyone to have such a huge history.” I shrugged and said “It’s nothing really. Can we let it go?” Fluttershy and Apple Dash quickly agreed then stopped and said “Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner!” I slowly looked past them at a tall building shaped like a cupcake and mumbled “So this is Sugar Cube Corner. Nice place.” Fluttershy nodded then she, Apple Jack, Twilight, and the dragon walked inside with me torn between running and walking in. Finally I sighed and followed them inside only to blink as I realized the entire room was dark.

I blinked and said “Hello?” Suddenly the lights flicked on and the Pink horse from earlier burst out and said “SURPRISE!” I had to refrain from jumping out of my skin, then smiled politely and said softly “Hello miss, Pinkie Pie. Isn’t the point of a welcoming party to make someone feel welcome not surprise them?” She grinned and said “Yeah, but it’s more fun this way, now LET’S PARTY!” I blinked and watched as she started dancing around then I was suddenly dragged from group to group and made to dance with all sorts of people, or in this case ponies, I didn’t know. Eventually I was dragged away by Apple Bloom, and her two friends who introduced themselves as Sweetie Bloom and Scootaloo. Then went on to explain they were the cutie mark crusaders.

I laughed at that and asked what a cutie mark was and they explained it to me. I listened to the explanation and nodded my head slowly as I listened then asked a few other questions before I was saved by Apple Jack via a lasso. I smiled in thanks at them and spent the rest of the party surrounded by her, and her friends. I tried my best to make all six of them laugh and told them everything I could about back home. As the day wore on people started to head off to their homes until it was just the seven of them and me. I found out the purple lizard was actually a baby dragon named Spike.

Eventually everything wore down and the seven of us discussed where I’d be staying. Apple Jack offered to keep me at the farm but I explained how I was tired of putting her family out and she sighed then said there’d always be a place at the farm. Rainbow Dash sighed and pointed out that since I couldn’t fly I couldn’t really stay on the clouds, so her house was out. Fluttershy felt bad about any of the animals being stuck outside so she couldn’t offer me a place to stay, so it came down to Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity. I told Pinkie Pie no because the cakes had two colts they were taking care of, and she had to worry about her pet alligator, who’d gummed my ankle earlier, so it came down to Rarity and Twilight.

Spike argued against me staying with either, but they ignored him. I smiled slightly at them and said “Well, I’m always after a good book to read, so you think I can stay at the library with you and Spike?” She smiled and said “Sure, the library gets a bit lonely with only Spike and Owloicious to keep me company. I guess we’d better head to the library though, since the cakes probably want to get to sleep.” I nodded and the two of us headed out after bidding everyone else farewell. We walked to the library in companionable silence for a while then bid each other goodnight after entering the library. I plopped down and started reading a book on magic while Spike and Twilight headed to bed. After about half an hour I headed upstairs and passed out on a bed and fell into a deep, much needed sleep.

Chapter 5: Imprisonment, Escape, Going home, An Audience with Princess Luna, and an offer of Magic Lessons???

The guards led me down the hallway then to a door at the back. One opened it with his horn then they continued to lead me down another floor before leaving me in my cell. They unshackled me with one apologizing for the treatment then locked me in and walked off, leaving me to think on how to get out. I first studied the cell they'd given me, since it could quite possibly be the last thing I would ever see if I wasn't smart enough to somehow escape. It was about ten feet long by ten feet wide, which was a hell of a lot longer than the few human prison cells I'd seen, and it was about fifteen feet high. I silently wondered if that was so a Pegasus could stretch their wings a little bit.

I started studying the cell block as soon as I finished studying my cell and saw that it was similar to a human prison block, but all of the cells were pretty much like the one I currently resided in. I sighed and laid my head against the bar then yelped as a soft shock went through my forehead. I shivered and jerked back then mumbled "Well if a unicorn can't think when they touch the bars they can't exactly escape with no problems, can they?" I sighed and mumbled "The bars are out. That leaves going deeper, going up through the ceiling or using the side walls until I get out of the palace and its dungeon. Not a fun thought."

I grinned slightly and said aloud "Of course I could always find a way to make a key I guess. I mean I have a feeling the bars are attuned to magical beings, not magical objects. If that's the case, then I'll find out soon enough, it will just take a bit of effort." I touched one of the stone on the wall and started imagining a chisel then slowly started having it mentally chip at the block in question taking a large enough chunk out for me to work with. I started shaping it into a key for my manacles growling softly to myself. It didn't work on the first try so I reshaped it again this time it fit in the lock, but it didn't reach far enough so I lengthened it and started to slowly turn it. Midway through I fell to the floor coughing as my body ran out of energy to sustain the spell.

I sighed and brought my hands to my mouth then twisted the key to lock my manacles before pulling it out of the keyhole and shoving it under my pillow. I laid back on the bed as my stomach growled and I heard the approach of footsteps suddenly one of the guards walked up and slid a plate with some bread, water, and apples on it over to me. I nodded in thanks then walked over and picked up the tray before walking back to my bed and sitting down to eat. The guard studied me and said softly "Are you really the cause of all this trouble in Equestria."

I blinked as I recognized the voice and said softly "Twilight?" The guard looked up and under the helmet were Twilight Sparkle’s brilliant purple eyes staring at me. I stared at her and asked "Have I once done anything to harm anyone in Ponyville, or Equestria in the time you've known me?"

She shook her head and said "No, but that's the reason I came to talk to you. I came to tell you that the girl's and I are thinking about breaking you out with the help of Shadow Blade. He says he can't stand to follow a group of leader's who would condemn an innocent man who would not fight until he knew it wouldn't harm the innocent. The only problem is we don't know which guard has the keys to your manacles, or to the cell."

I grinned at that and said "About that, I sort of let my magic out when I got here and started to make a key for my manacles."

She stared at me and said "Really, Jake, Really?"

I smiled innocently and said "I warned Blade I'd be leaving here one way or another before the execution.” She sighed and watched as I pulled the key out with magic then turned it in the manacles causing them to fall off before tossing it out to her. She stared at me confused and I said "Try shaping it for the lock, I'd rather not bust my way out of here, I'd like to escape as quickly as we can with as little trouble as we can." She nodded and started fiddling with the key using her horn's magic then slowly placed it in the lock checking its fit. When she was sure it was fit right she tried turning it. I listened and said "Shave a little bit off the body, it gets caught midway through." She nodded and pulled it out then thinned it just a bit and put it back in before turning it slowly.

The lock clicked open as she turned the key all the way to the right and the door swung open. I walked over and formed a small flame on my hand then touched it to the bars, instead of being injured like I thought I would, the bars turned red hot until I made the flames vanish. I smiled to myself and mumbled "So the enchantment is in the lock. When locked the front of the cell is magic proof, and of course there's a magical shield around the back and sides at a certain point that prevents people from destroying the walls too badly." Twilight stared at me slightly surprised I'd realized so much and I explained, "I was probing with magic all along the walls and after about a quarter of the way I felt intense pain. This place is built for magic users, fliers, and regular horses."

She nodded and said "Yeah though these dungeons aren't normally used. In all honesty you're the first prisoner this place has had in at least ten years."

I sighed softly at that then said aloud "It'll have a lot more if that bastard Daros has anything to say about it. Do you know anyone who can get through to Celestia without us having to resort to force?"

Twilight thought about it and said "I have a chance, but since I broke you out the Princess probably won't believe anything I say, Spike might be able to help, but she may think you tricked both of us, which leaves Princess Luna."

I stared at her and said "So I have to talk to her sister, who controls the moon?" She nodded and I sighed then said, "Lead on." She started slipping out of the dungeon with me following her silently.

She glanced at me and said "I'm going to cast an invisibility spell on you. Don't make a sound until we're out of here." I nodded and watched as her horn glowed with silver light then laid a hand on her shoulder. She jumped a bit then said "Is that you Jake?"

I smiled slightly and said "Yeah I thought it wise to touch you as a signal to keep going or stop. Stop when I squeeze, go when I rub your shoulder." She nodded and continued walking with me right beside her every step of the way. Suddenly we got to a crossroads and I gently squeezed her shoulder. She stopped and said "We go left from here, right leads to the barracks." I stroked her shoulder to let her know we could keep going as she explained and slipped along beside and slightly behind her.

As Twilight started to go left I grabbed her horn and pointed it right. She stared at where she assumed I was then sighed and said "Right, it is then." We walked down the corridor, with her silently wondering why the hell I wanted to go into the guard's barracks when we suddenly ended up at the very place I was thinking about. I prodded Twilight's shoulder and whispered "I thought you said left was the barracks?"

She snorted and said "No, I said right, but you were determined to go right, so right we went." We walked out of the barracks, which were conveniently empty because the guards were hunting throughout the dungeon for me and right into a group of trainees, and their teacher. I blinked as their teacher stared right at me and asked "So, you were clever enough to use the guardhouse as an escape route." He then turned to Twilight and said "I can't believe that anyone would help a traitor to Equestria, let alone Lady Celestia's apprentice. I'm shocked; you must be such a disappointment to Queen Celestia."

Twilight glared at him her eyes lighting up with an inner rage and prepared to rush at him. I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder and said "Let me handle this pompous ass." I picked up a sword from a nearby weapon rack and slowly twirled it testing the weight and feel not realizing that I hadn't handled a weapon in a few years, yet it seemed like I'd never let one out of my hand. I smirked at him as he started to back away from me and said "I bet your teacher is ashamed that he had to train a coward like you. A real warrior wouldn't back down from a fight, especially when his country and homeland are under duress."

Twilight stared at me as if I was a completely different person, as the earth pony, wearing the armor of the night corps, charged at me with his eyes narrowed and his face curled into a grimace of rage. I stepped to the side of his first charge and slammed the blade into the side of his helmet causing his head to ring and enraging him further.

He lashed out with his rear hooves and hit me in the shoulder causing my arm to go numb as he knocked it out of the socket. The only thing that saved me from having a broken collar bone was I'd jumped back as he kicked, and he'd only nicked me with his hooves. I sighed as I glanced at my arm then spun the blade in my hand as twilight realized I was just trying to aggravate him to make him easier to hit and Twilight smirked at the two of us and said "Hey Lance, I can't believe you missed, I mean he was standing perfectly still!" Lance glanced at her with a murderous glare that said she was next on his list of people who deserved a good kick in the head. I slammed my sword into his helmet again as he prepared to charge Twilight, causing him to shake his head and glare at me shouting "NO FAIR!!!"

I smirked and said "All's fair in love and war, and with an ass like yours we could always have some fun when this misunderstanding is cleared up." He suddenly brushed so brightly it actually showed through his helmet and shouted at me "WHA-WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY???!!!" I smirked and stuck my tongue out at him then jumped out of the way as he rushed at me seeming to be both embarrassed and angry at this point. Twilight fell over laughing then suddenly started blushing as she ended up with the image of the two of us together in her head.

Both Lance and I glared at the blush and Lance yelled "TWILIGHT SPARKLE DON'T YOU DARE THINK ABOUT THAT YOU PERVERT!!!!" I took that opportunity to jump into the air and slammed the blade down onto the top of his head harder than before causing him to twist around slightly and mumble "What the hell is wrong with everyone."

I stared in amazement at the fact he was still standing after a blow like that then Twilight walked up and gently prodded him with her foremost left hoof and watched as he fell over. She then turned to the trainees, who were all obviously only young colts and fillies, and said "I think you should take your commander to a medic, and please don't leave out that he fought bravely."

I snorted and said "Yes, but he failed." My words had the trainees scurrying over to pick up their fallen teacher and running off to tell their story, which I had a feeling by the end of everyone would think the practice yard was haunted. Suddenly Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew down into the courtyard, Fluttershy with a worried look on her face, and Rainbow with a curious grin.

Twilight took the spell off me and Rainbow asked "What the hell happened?"

Twilight sighed and said "Jake just knocked out my old friend Lance, who happens to be the head of Luna's personal guard. With that said, I think it's safe to say, we should leave."

Fluttershy was nodding enthusiastically at that and said "Apple Jack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie are waiting for us at the front entrance to the castle."

Rainbow Dash looked at me and said with so much cheek I was amazed her actual cheek wasn't bleeding. "Heh you seem to be spicing up our little group's lives and changing our boring old routine. I'd never peg Twilight as the type of person break into the jail, let alone break someone else out. Also Fluttershy wouldn't have agreed to come with me if you weren't involved, Apple Jack's been acting different since you showed up, and Rarity seemed to be determined to make Celestia release you even if it meant making an enemy out of the court. How in the name of Cloudsdale do you do it?"

I snorted at that then heard the sound of hoof-steps and said "Right, time to go." Before grabbing the three of them by their manes and dragging them with me inside the palace. Rainbow glared at me and started to ask what the hell I thought I was doing when I covered her mouth and mumbled "Ixnay on the atterchay." She stared at me confused until she heard the sound of metal jingling past the door we just went in, and voices talking about my recent escape.

When they passed she glared at me and said "What's the big idea yanking on a girl's mane like that?"

I stared and said "Would you have followed me otherwise?"

She thought about it then said "Probably not without a good explanation, so I guess I see why you did that. Next time warn a girl though!"

I snorted and said "Duly noted," before turning to Twilight and asking "Where do we go to get to the front entrance from here?"

Twilight studied the hallway, which had a rich red carpet on the floor; several stain glass windows, and it was rather tall then said "I think we go down the corridor. I'll know more when we get to a part of the palace I'm more familiar with."

The four of us started wandering down the hallway, with Twilight occasionally changing our course as the terrain became more familiar to her, and I couldn't help but feel like we were being watched. I suddenly stopped as I heard the sound of footsteps approaching and motioned for the girls to hide in the room to our left; while I stood against the wall ready to jump around the corner and go after whoever it was. Suddenly I heard the sound of Pinkie Pie's voice and walked around the corner grabbing her by her hoof and tossing her in the room with Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and Fluttershy who hadn't said a word since we met up again.

She seemed to be slightly afraid of me, and I honestly didn't blame her for that. I went back around the corner and stared as Rarity and Apple Jack looked ready to fight until they saw it was just me. I quickly grabbed them by the front of their coats and tossed them in the room with the other girls before slipping into the room and locking it behind me. The others stared at me then suddenly gathered around me in a big hug surprising the hell out of me.

Rarity glared at me after the hug and said "Why did you mess up my mane?"

I stared and said "I thought we were about to be swarmed by guards, I don't know if you and Apple Jack heard, but I knocked out the head of Luna's guard."

Rarity stared at me then pushed me away from the girls and said "Girl talk, go find something to do while you wait." I walked off and pulled out my phone, which still had battery life amazingly enough, but no signal. I sighed then shrugged and started playing solitaire plotting a path through the palace despite it seeming like I was doing nothing.

A few minutes later Twilight walked over and said "We're done talking amongst ourselves. The girls think we should split into two groups, but we're not sure who should go with you, and who should be the decoys. You have any ideas?"

I shrugged and said "You, Rainbow, and AJ are the most useful for me. AJ is a help because of her strength, Rainbow her speed and you because of your magic. The others make a good distraction between Rarity's ability to attract a colt's eyes, Pinky's loud cannon blasts, and Fluttershy's critters. I figure you guys already knew that though, and just told me because you want to see if I was smart enough to deduct the same thing you guys decided."

She blinked and said "Wow... You really are smart."

I shook my head at that and said "No, you just underestimated my knowledge of tactics. I really don't know all that much about this world or how you guys handle situations like this. I'm just going off what I know of you girls."

They all stared at me like I'd grown an extra head and I started to ask what was wrong when Twilight said "You'd give my brother charming a run for his money on deduction, now to put our plan into action."

I sighed deciding not to fight with them and replied "Fine, but I'm not leaving without every one of you. Understand? If so you know that means don't get caught." They all laughed at that then we split with Twilight leading AJ, Rainbow, and me, while Rarity and the other two took over guarding the door.

We walked through several spare rooms then Twilight opened a large pair of double doors as the sound of trotting hooves approached and we were forced to hide. I slowly turned to see a stunning beautiful mare with a truly blue coat studying us and nudged twilight. She followed my eyes and let out a soft eep then squeaked out "Hello Princess, I didn't realize this was your room."

Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash both looked slightly sickened when they saw who it was and gave their greetings while I was a bit too enthralled in her beauty to say anything except "Bonjour."

She studied us then said "Twilight Sparkle, why are you here? Last I heard you were still at the crystal city with your sister in law and brother prince shining armor."

Twilight swallowed loudly and replied "I came home when Apple Jack told me Blaze had dropped off someone at Sweet Apple Acres and wanted me to check them out. It turns out that was my friend Jake here. Jake, please introduce yourself to the princess, before we get in more trouble."

I blinked and shook my head then slowly bowed before dropping to one knee and saying "Demon slayer Jake Wolf at your service milady. I'm sorry to cause your castle such a headache."

She raised an eyebrow then glanced at Twilight and said "Rather formal isn't he?" I smirked while Twilight and Apple Jack gave varying responses then she said "You may rise if you wish it Jake, although I'm amazed anyone remembers the old codes and to bow to a queen. You must not be from here."

I shook my head and said "No I'm from earth. It's a long story that I'll let Twilight tell you while I try to sort out my brain if you don't mind." She nodded and Twilight started telling her everything I'd told the purple mare, as well as her own story and Apple Jack's.

I listened to it all and when Twilight was Done Luna studied me and said "Then why were you imprisoned?"

I shrugged and said "Your guess on that is as good as mine. I was expecting to just meet the princess not be thrown in jail just for coming here. However I'm supposedly a cause of a hell load of trouble."

She studied me and said "So you're the one who the new advisor blames for everything and smells of discord."

I shrugged slightly at that and said "I guess, if he's the bugger that I met before talking with the judges."

She nodded in answer then Twilight suddenly looked between the two of us before asking Luna, "Princess is it normal for non-unicorns and alicorns to have magic?" Luna looked at her questioningly and she said "Jake does, as we already told you, and that's about it as far as ponies or people as he calls himself without horns able to cast magic."

Luna studied her then turned and looked at me before turning back and slowly stating "I want to see him use magic before I take you at your word Twilight. Normally such a thing requires a focus, that's why only unicorns and alicorns can use most magic. Our focus is our horns. Do you understand what I'm telling you?" She nodded, as did Rainbow Dash, and Apple Jack albeit a bit slower than Twilight. Luna turned to me and said "Demonstration please."

I nodded and slowly focused on my first finger on my right hand and imagined a flame blossoming there. The flame slowly started to grow in my mind but I forced it down and made my finger more like a candle's wick. I refused to let it grow larger. Suddenly I heard a voice, almost as if from a great distance "Enough Jake. You've proven what Twilight said. Turn off the flame before it gets out of your control like it nearly did once already." I nodded my head slowly, almost as if I was trapped in gel and slowly released the image of a flame. As I opened my eyes the flame vanished from my finger and everyone was studying me.

Luna studied me and said "Would you like to learn to control the magic you seem so able to harness?" I started to nod then all of us gasped as the door burst open and the other three of the mane six fell in. Rainbow shut it quickly as Pinky Pie said "Hiya your highness!" I sighed and said "Yes princess I'd like to learn how to use magic safe and properly. Where do we start?" She smiled mischievously and said "How about right now," as she coated me in water from her horn. I blinked as the water coated me from head to toe and I swore softly blasting her with water of my own as someone started banging on the door.

She chuckled then stopped and said "Yes what is it?"

The banging stopped and a voice from the other side said "Princess we thought we heard something strange. Are you alright?"

Luna responded "Yes I'm fine. I was just talking with my sister's student and teaching her a new spell."

The voices responded and said "Alright your majesty. We'll leave you to your teaching."

She replied "Good." I listened as the hoof-steps faded away and silently smacked myself for letting the girls' way of talking infiltrate my thoughts.

I looked at Luna and said "I think what with me being a fugitive, and everything else that's happened since shortly before I arrived, it's time for me to leave."

She nodded and said "When you return to Equestria I would like for you to seek me out."

I nodded and said "Sure, hopefully we meet again under better circumstances my dear teacher."

I focused on the door the girls and I had originally entered through as Twilight said "What exactly do you two mean by it's time for you to go?" I grinned and said "Well Twily, I'm going home for a while. You girls should probably come with me." She glared at me for using a nickname that Spike had said only her brother could call her by and mentioning that they should probably leave. She motioned for the other girls to gather around in a group huddle and they started talking about what they should do.

I on the other hand focused on the door and slowly started channeling magic into it as someone knocked on the other door and Luna started a conversation with them. After a few minutes the girls lined up behind me ready to go through the door once my spell was over and I opened it. I wasn't sure the spell would work, but so far the magic did what I wanted just with a problem of being too much. Concentration was the key, I knew that, but due to my schizophrenia I had trouble concentrating properly without a lot of effort.

Eventually the door started to glow blue as the other door started to open. I pushed it open and motioned for the girls to go through as a white head with a gold horn and beautiful mane stuck its way into the room and Luna tried to cover for us. The girls all went through the door quickly without looking back. I just smiled at Celestia and said "See ya around," before diving through the portal. I pulled it shut behind me and found that as soon as it was shut my hand was grasping nothing and I was flying through the air to land on top of six beautiful young women who winced and said "GET OFF!!!"

I hopped to my feet and stared at them slightly taken aback and said "Did you girls see six ponies come flying through the air?"

They stared at me as I studied them then one with rainbow dyed hair said "Duh hay for brains, we're right in front of you."

I blinked and asked "Rainbow?"

She smirked and said "Yeah that's my name don't wear it out."

I slowly fell back as Zero walked up and said "Welcome back."

Chapter 4: A little bit of Magic, A whole lot of whole lot of chaos, a royal summons and a treacherous trial

I woke up about four hours after I’d fallen asleep and stretched out slowly then went back to the book I’d been reading earlier and continued flipping through it, starting to understand some of the mechanics of magic. I slowly did as the book suggested and started concentrating on what I wanted to happen. Suddenly I hear a loud “FWOOSH!!” and found myself in a small ring of fire. I stared at it and mumbled “I wanted a small flame, not a fire that would engulf the library.” Then I concentrated and a torrent of water seemed to flow from my hands, putting out the fire, but completely soaking the floor. I stared at the scorch marks and said “Ok, I’m obviously concentrating too hard or not concentrating hard enough.”

I sighed and closed the book then put it away and started scrubbing at the burn marks on the floor. About five hours later Twilight walked downstairs yawning with Spike, and an owl in tow. I smiled innocently at Twilight and Spike, Spike instantly saw the smile and glared saying “What did you do this time? Molest Twilight in her sleep? Come close to destroying the library? Destroy a book?” I blinked and said “None of the above, though I think I learned magic.” Twilight stared at me and said “What do you mean you think you learned magic?” I smiled innocently and asked her “Show you, or tell you?” She stared at me then said “Show. I want to see this magic for myself.” I nodded and motioned we should go outside. She nodded her assent then fell into step beside me with the owl and spike sitting on her back.

The four of us walked out in front of the library and Twilight created a barrier that gave us about a ten foot radius and watched me waiting patiently to see what I could do. I slowly envisioned the flame before and held out my hand concentrating on containing the flame in as small an area as possible without burning myself. Suddenly I heard a “whoosh” sound and mumbled “Oh hell.” I opened one eye as I heard twilight telling Spike to take notes and realized I had a column of flames rising from my hand striking the ceiling of the dome then spreading along the sides till it dissipated. I held out my other hand keeping the image of fire in my head then also imagined a simple stream of water and a geyser shot up working to counter the fire causing steam and clouds to form around the top of the dome.

Twilight stared at me and asked “How are you doing that? I’ve never heard of anyone other than Princesses Luna and Celestia having such good control over physical elements like fire and water. I mean the girls and I can use the elements of harmony, and I can do some big spells, but nothing quite like making both fire and water appear out of thin air.” I shrugged and said “I can only think of three or four things. First, Visualization whenever I am trying to do or make anything I visualize it. Second is Imagination, without imagination nothing in magic can truly come into existence because the laws of magic in your books were saying that magic relies on the will of the creator. Third is energy flow.”

I breathed deeply and continued “Since I don’t have a horn like you to use as a focal point I have to forcibly make my energy coalesce in one point on my body. I chose the air above my hands because that way I don’t get burned and I can watch how much energy I put out. Finally and most importantly is concentration. Without concentration magic can’t work. I figure it’s the same here as in any other world, though the results here from too much or too little concentration seem to be disastrous. Sorry about the floor by the way.”

Spike mumbled something about novice magic users ruining all his work and having to clean up the messes of arrogant jerks. I smiled slightly at the young dragon and said “Spike I’ll agree with you on some points, but I have to say you’re wrong on others. First of all, yes I am arrogant; I’ll admit that no matter who asks. I’m even more arrogant than Rainbow Dash can be at times from what I’ve seen. Second I guess you could say I’m a jerk, I don’t try to be but I tend to end up appearing as such because of something I said or did. Lastly you don’t have to clean up my mess. As soon as you tell me where the broom, mop, scrub bush, and bucket are I will gladly get on my hands and knees and clean up the library floor.”

He stared at me a few minutes then said “I guess you aren’t as bad as I thought at first. Everything’s in the storage room on the bottom shelf. I decided to place it there since Twilight spends all her extra time down there. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to dust off the library’s bookshelves.” I nodded in understand as he and the owl went inside the owl hooting sleepily. I turned to twilight as the energy above my hands faded and the two streams of magic, one fire the other water, faded from existence and asked “Do you mind asking Princess Celestia for an audience in the near future while I clean up the library floor?” Twilight stared at me and said “You were serious?” I nodded and said “I clean up my own messes.

She slowly nodded and said “Sure, I’ll start the letter right away.” We both headed inside and I walked to Spike’s aforementioned closet to grab everything I’d need. As I was getting out of the closet, and hanging my shirt on Twilight’s coat rack, Apple Jack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash walked in looking for Twilight. They stared at me a few seconds and I bowed politely then said “Excuse me ladies, I need to go fill my bucket with water so I can clean up the floor, Twilight’s upstairs.” They nodded in thanks and headed up there with Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash staying back slightly. I looked at them questioningly and Rainbow asked rather bluntly “Why are you about to clean Twilight’s floor?”

Apple Jack nudged her and said “Rainbow!’ She turned back to me and asked “Jake, are you doing this because you stayed at Twilight’s or did she ask you too?” I snorted at that and said “Apple Jack I’m cleaning up the floor because I accidentally scorched it. I also feel like I owe Twilight something for giving me a place to stay. So to answer your first question about is it because I’m staying at Twilight’s yes and no.” Apple Jack nodded while Rainbow Dash tried to figure what particular purpose what I was doing served then shook her head and motioned that they should join the others upstairs. Apple Jack nodded and followed her up occasionally glancing back at me as if trying to be sure I wasn’t going to vanish into thin air.

I walked outside and filled the bucket with water then walked back in and started cleaning up the floor wondering why it didn’t bother me to do it here, but always bothered me back home. I shook my head and continued cleaning deciding that focusing on the differences between the old and new me wouldn’t help anything. I stopped dead and said aloud “What the fuck do I mean by the difference between old and new me? I’m still the exact same person? Is someone trying to fuck with my head?” Fluttershy and the others looked at me questioningly and I shook my head slowly saying it was alright and got back to work cleaning. Suddenly I heard a large belch and Twilight say “What is it Spike?” He handed her a pamphlet looking sick and went to lie down on his bed with his head under his pillow.

I felt a bit sorry for the poor guy but couldn’t really muster the sympathy as I finished cleaning and sat down by one of the bookshelves arguing with the voice in my head that wouldn’t shut the fuck up. I growled softly and shook my head then blinked as I realized that all six girls were staring at me. I slowly stood up and bowed to them then asked “What’s wrong?” Fluttershy coughed and said softly “Well…um, you see Jake… Princess Celestia has summoned you to Canterlot… We’re also supposed to go with you.” She stopped talking and looked down as Twilight picked up with a simple “Did you do anything wrong Jake?” I slowly shook my head and said “Not since I came here, why?”

Rainbow Dash heard that and started mumbling about stupid judges while Rarity said “That’s wonderful darling, because you see… well I think I’ll let Apple Jack tell you. It’s not right for a lady of my refinement to be the bearer of such bad news.” Apple Jack glared at her then turned to me and said “Jake, hon. we have a problem. Supposedly the royal court says you’re under arrest for causing chaos throughout Equestria. We don’t believe it but supposedly royal advisors have seen you and monsters have appeared looking for you. Princess Celestia wants to talk with you, then if she thinks you mean no harm she’ll release you, however if she thinks you mean harm you’ll be sent to a trial before Equestria’s top judges.”

Twilight nodded and said softly “We’re supposed to put chains on you if you resist and assume you’re guilty, so please just wait for the carriage to come pick us up then you can relay your story to the princess and we can get to the bottom of this.” I nodded and said softly “No problem Twilight. I’m not going to fight you girls, and I didn’t do anything wrong. You’re princess will realize that as soon as she talks to me so no worries.” I smiled reassuringly despite the queasy feeling roiling around inside my stomach and the incessant voice in my head saying that it was a trap. I ignored the voice and stretched out then stood up and walked outside before plucking a small branch from the tree and starting to carve it with the girls following me and watching me carefully.

I cut the branch into six individual pieces and slowly started carving each one even more muttering to myself with every stroke of the knife feeling the girls’ eyes on me and hearing them talk amongst themselves. I slowly started carving the first of the six pieces in more detail. I began by putting it into an overall horse shape, then started carving out the face, mane, and tail. I started getting more detailed the longer I worked and by the time I was finished it looked like an exact replica of the purple unicorn watching me and trying to understand what I was thinking. I did the same with the other five getting the other five who were looking at me down perfectly then drew upon my magic and slowly filled in the color on each figurine. I smiled when that’s what happened and that’s the only place the color went.

Twilight stared at me a bit then said “You are one of the oddest creatures I ever met.” The others quickly agreed and stashed their figurines then glanced up as we heard the sound of trumpets. I got up and dusted myself off then put the knife by the tree and walked out to where a golden chariot being pulled by two Pegasi was pulling up. I slowly walked up to them and bowed politely then said “Let me wash up, and you may take me wherever we have to go guys, alright?” They stared at me as if I was some sort of alien, which I guess as far as most of those here in Equestria were concerned, that’s exactly what I was. I guess I’d gotten to use to how the girls treated me, and the rest of Ponyville had decided to treat me by extension.

I shrugged and walked to a trough of water then scrubbed my face and upper body clean before staring at my reflection and sighing as I saw the horse head branded into it had started to glow. I sighed and pulled on my shirt deciding it didn’t matter since I couldn’t do anything about it then climbed in the carriage. The girls filed in behind me and I tried to relax as I was surrounded by six females, all of which had their own quirks. I say six because Pinky Pie had arrived just as I’d started carving and was currently talking really excitedly into my ear. I sighed and rubbed my eyes resisting the urge to swear loudly and laid my head back against the seat as the carriage took off with Rainbow Dash mumbling about not being able to fly, and Apple Jack covering her mouth looking out the window.

I looked at AJ and said “Motion sick, huh?” She looked at me confused and I explained about how some people couldn’t handle the rocking of ships, movement of cars, or even movement of plains. As I talked I left out the details of what happened and simply said “It’s messy when a lot of motion sick people are in a vehicle together. From there I started talking about all the wonders of my home, including the different farming tools we had. She listened and started asking questions, her motion sickness all but forgotten. I smiled to myself as I explained to her the purpose of a combine, and how it made harvesting a lot easier.

She argued with me on a few points like how it detracted from the effort like magic did. I readily agreed though I argued it made it easier for one farmer to own a lot of land. She agreed that both magic and technology did do that, but it still decreased the connection with the land. I nodded and said “That’s the problem, you’re either efficient, or caring to your land. It’s hard to be both.” She blinked as she saw the sorrow in my eyes and smiled slightly then said “Ah well, at least some of us don’t mind doing things the old fashioned way.” I smiled back and said “True, very true.” She smiled at me then glanced out the window and blinked before letting out a soft whistle. I followed her gaze and swallowed audibly then said softly “Oh fuck, I’m so dead.”

Twilight put her hoof on my shoulder and said “No you’re not Jake. We’ll just tell the princess your side of the story and you’ll be fine.” I smiled at her shakily in thanks then closed my eyes and laid back my head meanwhile Rainbow Dash asked Apple Jack how she’d managed to get over her fear of flying chariots. Apple Jack stared at her then said it had to have had something to do with talking to people. I smiled from my spot and said “I took your mind off the fact you were in the chariot, making the urge to be sick go with it. Just relax and enjoy the ride as we get ready to land.” She nodded and went silent seeming to be trying to relax. I opened one eye and saw that Fluttershy had tried my trick with Apple Jack by talking with Pinky Pie. The two of them were talking about how to take care of Gummy, Pinky Pies pet alligator.

I tuned out their conversation as I turned to Twilight and said “Scale of one to ten, ten being the highest, how angry would Celestia have to be to have me arrested?” Twilight thought about it a few minutes then said “I dunno, I’m guessing at least a five, since the princess doesn’t get angry very easily.” I nodded and mumbled “Interesting, so I just have to prove I’m innocent and things should work out.” Twilight nodded in response to what I said then glanced up as the door of the carriage opened. I motioned for the girls to step out first as the carriage was suddenly flanked by guards in golden armor.

The girls stepped out in a relaxed manner and the guards bowed to them, all the while watching me. I slowly followed the girls out and took about three steps away from the carriage before I was surrounded by a large contingent of guards. I sighed and said “I take it I’m not going to see the princess?” One of the guards smacked me with his tail and said “Shut up outsider. You’re to be put on trial by order of Lord Daros. He said filth like you shouldn’t be allowed near the princess.” At the name Daros my chest started burning and I felt as if all the air had been sucked out of my lungs.

I breathed in slowly the air feeling like it was full of ashes then turned to Twilight and said “Twilight, you guys mind doing three things for me?” One of the unicorns nudged me in the back with his horn and I turned then grabbed it growling softly my eyes flashing. He took a step back and I said softly “If you want to keep that horn you won’t touch me with it again. If you do I swear to the heaven’s that I will rip it off your head and shoves it up your fucking ass.” He took another step back and I said “That’s better.” The anger left my eyes as I turned back to the girls. I sighed softly and said “As I was saying, Twilight do you and the girls mind fulfilling three requests for me, if not I understand.”

Twilight stared into my eyes and seemed to see the pain that I’d been hiding behind the anger and asked “What are your requests?” I smiled knowing that she was asking so she could weigh the options rather than asking because she was agreeing. I smiled and said softly “First give my regards to Lady Celestia. Second I want you to accept that I’m probably going to be a fugitive before the day is through. Third, Lord Daros is no lord; he’s a demon who plans on taking over Equestria.” I motioned for the guards to lead on occasionally glancing back at the unicorn that’d stabbed me and glaring at him.

Eventually they guided me to a large building where several ponies wearing the usual gold armor, and others wearing a strange black armor that seemed heavier, were waiting for me. One of the ones wearing black armor walked over with shackles for my wrists. He dropped them at my feet and I said “No worries, I’ll follow your laws.” I slipped on the first shackle and locked it around my wrist. I put it behind my back then crossed my other arm over it and locked the shackle on it as well. The one who gave me the shackles smiled sadly and said softly “Lady Luna dislikes Lord Daros. I don’t know why, but anyone she has a problem with the guard has a problem with. As such the only reason I’m doing this is because I must.”

I smiled in understanding and nodded then said “Check the shackles to prove that they’re on tight.” He nodded and tugged on the chain then each individual shackle before having seven other guards do the same thing before leading me inside. I followed him slowly and had to stop a few times as the mark on my chest seemed to burst into flame then freeze itself over and over again. After a few minutes they stopped in a large chamber with multiple stands set around the room. Behind each stand stood a different member of the court, and all of them were watching me carefully. I bowed politely as the guard who’d given me the shackles, and a guard wearing a slightly more stylized gold armor flanked me on either side.

I studied each judge letting the mark tell me who was friend, and who was foe. The two to the far left caused the pain to fade as I watched them; however the one in the center caused the amulet to send shockwaves of fire, ice, and lightning throughout my core. I met his eye and saw behind the façade of a horse the face of a demonic beast with twisted gnarled horns. It seemed to glare at me and I glared back growling softly and watching it before looking at the one next to it which behind the façade of a normal pony was a skeletal zombified horse with flaming eyes. I shivered slightly and looked at the last one which was a normal horse, however he seemed to be corrupted and the air around him was filled with dark energy.

I turned to the guard to my left, who was the one who’d shackled me, and said softly “I’m going to lose this trial no matter what. Daros and his cronies make up the majority of the judges are his men, and all three will do whatever it takes to get me executed.” He stared at me and said softly “If that’s the case, then at least tell me your name, stranger, so that you can be remembered as a being that stood with honor when he had the chance to run, and even bound his own body to prove his case.” I smiled and said “My name is Jake, Jake Wolf or Jake Fedor depending on who you ask. Paperwork hasn’t settled. Can I ask who you are?”

He stared at me then said “Shadow Blade.” I smirked and said “Nice to meet you Shadow, may Luna always be protected by you.” He smiled slightly in thanks then one of the judges slammed his hoof down causing us all to turn toward him. He was the one farthest to the left and had a gavel and stand on his thigh. He stared at me then glanced at the demon in the middle and said “Alright Daros, why are we here to prosecute an outsider?” Daros laughed and said “Because it is he and his followers who are causing trouble all across Equestria. Twilight Sparkle’s letters said that he arrived at the same time as the monsters, and that like the monsters he fell from the sky. Coincidence, I think not.”

I stared at him and shivered as he seemed to be looking through me then hear the girl from before suddenly say softly in my head “Stop thinking of him as a demon. If he realizes you see through his disguise he will slay you, and everyone in the room other than his two followers.” I replied with “How the hell do I ignore it? He’s the same bloody type of creature I had to fight with back home when I was younger!” The girl sighed and said “Calm down, I understand your feelings, but you can’t let him realize you know what he is. He thinks his illusion is full-proof, the only ones who could possibly see through it are the two alicorns that rule this kingdom, the younger of which is starting to be onto him, and others with truly powerful magic.”

I mentally sighed and asked “What makes me able to see through his illusion?” The girl laughed and replied “You’re magic is a lot stronger than you think. It stems from the very thing that this land fears so much. You are a creature of chaos, as far as your magic is concerned, but without control it will consume you. Also without Chaos harmony is useless; however you may wish to hide your abilities so that the girls don’t realize it until you’re ready to tell them.” I sighed and mentally nodded then went back to listening to the conversation around me as my crimes were listed off. I waited patiently until they were done then asked “Do I get to speak in my defense?” Daros stared at me then said “Of course outsider, please tell us your side.”

I shrugged and told him my story leaving out how the pendant had fused to me and instead saying I lost it causing Daros to get this hungry look in his malevolent eyes. As I finished speaking the judge on the left, who seemed to have seniority slammed his gavel down and said “I believe I’ve heard enough. Let us put this to a vote. As you all know Majority rules, and the majority picks the punishment.” The other four nodded and he said “Those who believe the outsider’s story?” The one next to him said simply “I do, he seems to be the type you can trust.” He glanced at Daros and his cronies who snorted and said “Never would we believe a monster.” I sighed softly and looked at the one who’d asked the question. He sighed and said “Then it’s a majority of three against. Daros, since you lead the two fools to your right, please pick the lad’s punishment.”

Daros laughed evilly and said “His punishment shall be death. A swift execution is all one who terrorizes our people deserves. I believe Queen Celestia will agree with me on this.” I said softly “You mean princess Celestia.” He stopped and looked at me then said “What was that, boy?” I looked up and spat into his face then said “Princess Celestia. Even though I’ve yet to meet her, I know she’s not so arrogant as to call herself a queen when she shares power with her younger sister.” He glared at me the spit sizzling on his real skin underneath the pure black stallion form he’d taken and said softly “For that, you’re execution shall be moved to the day after tomorrow. Guards take him away.” I heard the two honest judges talking among themselves about getting the princesses’ help as I was forced to turn and leave the trial chambers. Twilight, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy were waiting for me outside.

I glanced at Shadow and said softly “Can I have a few moments to speak with the girls?” He nodded and motioned for the other guard to step back as he went to talk with his own men about the future. I motioned for the girls to come over and they slowly approached me. I smiled sadly at them and said “I’m to be executed in two days.” Twilight’s eyes sparkled with an inner rage and she said softly “No. This can’t be true, I’ll get Princess Celestia to overturn this judgment and you’ll be free by sundown.” I motioned with my head for her to be quiet and listen. She did so grudgingly and I said “You can try, but I think Celestia is under some sort of spell by the new lord. His name is Daros. You can’t trust him or any of his followers.” Twilight and the others nodded as I continued “You have to warn Princess Luna about the possibility of her sister being under a spell. Also stay together at all times. You’re strength lies in you working together as one unit.”

They stared at me surprised as I said “What? You think I can’t sense the magic that binds the six of you together? I’m a novice to magic, but I can still sense things better than most.” They slowly nodded and I continued “I will go to jail, since technically I came to your lands without permission, but I will not be executed. I’m going to escape and find a way home. You can either join me, or stay out of my way. I refuse to fight you.” Again they all nodded then I smiled at Rarity and said “Rarity, you have that cap I asked for?” She nodded and slipped it onto my head without me asking her to. I smiled in thanks then said “Can’t go to jail without looking at least a little fashionable.”

She laughed at that and Rainbow Dash said “Don’t you dare let them break you, Killer. I want another race when everything’s said and done.” I grinned at her and said “Of course Rainbow, I wouldn’t dream of depriving you of another chance to lose.” She glared at me as I turned to Fluttershy and smiled. Fluttershy smiled back and I said softly “I’m sorry we couldn’t talk more. Tell Angel and the others I’ll drop by before I leave Equestria. Also let Angel know I swiped a few apples from AJ’s farm and stored them at the base of the library behind a potted plant.” She smiled and said “Angel will be delighted that you thought of her.”

I grinned then turned to Apple Jack who was looking away and nudged her with my shoulder. She stared in my eyes and I said “AJ, trust your sense of people. Don’t let them lie to you. The others are going to need you now more than ever, because I have a feeling Equestria is in a lot of trouble.” I nodded toward Shadow, and she followed my nod. I stared her dead in the eye and said “Make Shadow your ally. Tell him about Daros, and also tell him that I’m sorry.” She nodded seeming lost as I turned to Pinky and said “Pinky, keep the others happy in the times ahead, ok?”

She nodded really quickly then blinked and said “Wait, why are you saying to keep them happy, what’s going to make them sad?” I smiled sadly and said “I have a feeling that everything’s going to change soon. I don’t know if I’ll be able to help you guys out again, so it’ll be important that you keep them smiling till I get back. Kay?” She nodded then I whistled at Shadow who walked over. I stared into his eyes and said softly “Shadow, even if this doesn’t mean much, I count you as a friend.” He smiled bitterly and said “I was told that Princess Celestia’s guards will be taking you to your cell.”

I laughed bitterly at that letting a small amount of anger show and said “Ah well, at least we got to meet for a while. Tell the princess I wish I’d had a chance to meet her in person.” He nodded and said “See you around Jake. Or should I call you Wolf?” I smirked and said “Name’s Jake, but my friends call me Wolf.” He grinned and said “See you around Wolf, because I have the feeling that Daros won’t be getting his wish.” I smirked and said “Hell no. I’ll let your friends take me to jail, but that’s it. I’m not a citizen of Equestria, so I sure as fuck ain’t dying for this country.” He laughed at that then turned away before stopping and saying “I hope if you do make it out alive the princess gives you amnesty. I’d hate to meet as enemies.” I nodded and said “As would I. However that won’t happen.”

He grinned at me and said “You know, when you say things like that, I can’t help but believe their true.” I smirked at him then studied his body as he started to walk away. He was almost pure black, except for a blood red horn, dark red mane and tail, dark red hooves, purple eyes, and two blood red swords on his flank surround by a blue flame. I looked away from him and stared at my guards who seemed to be waiting patiently for me to follow them. I grimaced and said “Alright let’s go.” Then the three of us headed off with the girls shouting they’d get me out of this mess, and Shadow’s words ringing in both my heart and head. I sighed then got irritated at the simple fact I was being treated like a criminal while the real criminal pretended to be the Princess’s adviser.

That’s when I realized that the dark voice from before was laughing and talking about how good my head would look on his mantle I ignored it and just followed the guards, still angry, but not letting it really show on my face. One of the guards said something and I gave a non-committal answer then we walked into the entrance of the dungeons and I stared at the darkness ahead with trepidation. The guards seemed to sense it and tried to calm my anxiety but I waved it off and motioned for them to lead on. As soon as I heard the door to the dungeon close behind me I realized that getting out wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought.